minister

American  

[min-uh-ster] / ˈmɪn ə stər /

noun

1. a person authorized to conduct religious worship; member of the clergy; pastor.

2. a person authorized to administer sacraments, as at Mass.

3. a person appointed by or under the authority of a sovereign or head of a government to some high office of state, especially to that of head of an administrative department.

   the minister of finance.

4. a diplomatic representative accredited by one government to another and ranking next below an ambassador.

5. a person acting as the agent or instrument of another.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to administer or apply.

   to minister the last rites.

2. Archaic. to furnish; supply.

verb (used without object)

1. to perform the functions of a religious minister.

2. to give service, care, or aid; attend, as to wants or necessities..

   to minister to the needs of the hungry.

   Synonyms:

   oblige, tend, answer

3. to contribute, as to comfort or happiness.

minister British  

/ ˈmɪnɪstə /

noun

1. (esp in Presbyterian and some Nonconformist Churches) a member of the clergy

2. a person appointed to head a government department

3. any diplomatic agent accredited to a foreign government or head of state

4. short for minister plenipotentiary or envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary See envoy 1

5. Also called (in full): minister resident.  a diplomat ranking after an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary

6. a person who attends to the needs of others, esp in religious matters

7. a person who acts as the agent or servant of a person or thing

---

verb

1. to attend to the needs (of); take care (of)

2. archaic (tr) to provide; supply

minister ¹ Cultural  

1. In many Protestant churches, the presiding clergyman. Ministers preach sermons; conduct services; officiate at baptisms, weddings, and funerals; and generally look after the needs of their congregation. Some Protestant churches refer to their clergy as pastors or preachers rather than ministers.

---

minister ² Cultural  

1. A title used in many countries for members of cabinets and similar public officials, who are roughly equivalent to the officials in the United States cabinet. For example, a minister of foreign affairs will have duties similar to those of the secretary of state of the United States.

---

Other Word Forms

• ministership noun
• preminister verb (used without object)
• subminister noun
• underminister noun
• unministered adjective

Etymology

Origin of minister

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the noun) Middle English minister, ministre, from Old French ministre, from Latin minister “servant,” from minus “less” (adverb form of minor minor ) + -ter, noun suffix; (for the verb) Middle English ministren, from Old French ministrer, from Latin ministrāre “to act as a servant, attend,” derivative of minister; master ( def. )

Explanation

You might meet a minister of the religious kind — a pastor or a rector. Or, you may meet a minister of the government kind — a prime minister or a minister of finance, for example. You don't have to be religious to minister. When you minister to someone, you take care of them. All of these meanings of minister — both as a noun and as a verb — contain a grain of the original Latin meaning, "servant." A minister in a church serves his or her flock, and a prime minister serves his or her country.

Example Sentences

Carney led the central banks of Canada and Britain before replacing Justin Trudeau as prime minister in March 2025.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

The prime minister said the US-Iran ceasefire agreement was "fragile" and that the Strait of Hormuz would need to be "part of the solution".

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

“It is unprecedented for a prime minister to have a serving ISI chief removed like that,” said Basit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Security minister Dan Jarvis said the money would help "keep people safe in the places where they live, work and worship".

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

In 1784, Jefferson was appointed America’s minister, or ambassador, to France.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• administrator
• aide
• delegate
• diplomat
• envoy
• executive
• official
• secretary