ministry

[min-uh-stree]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ministry ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural min·is·tries.

the service, functions, or profession of a minister of religion.

the body or class of ministers of religion; clergy.

the service, function, or office of a minister of state.

the body of ministers of state.

(usually initial capital letter) any of the administrative governmental departments of certain countries usually under the direction of a minister of state.

(usually initial capital letter) the building that houses such an administrative department.

the term of office of a minister of state.

an act or instance of ministering; ministration; service.

something that serves as an agency, instrument, or means.

Origin of ministry

1175–1225; Middle English < Latin ministerium, equivalent to minister minister + -ium -ium

Related formspre·min·is·try, noun, plural pre·min·is·tries.pseu·do·min·is·try, noun, plural pseu·do·min·is·tries.un·der·min·is·try, noun, plural un·der·min·is·tries.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for ministry

department, bureau, exhortation, preaching, prayer, clergy, priesthood, prelacy, clergymen, vicarage, clericals

Examples from the Web for ministry

Contemporary Examples of ministry

It would take a few years for the ministry to change its tune on Borat.
When Countries Lose Their Shit Over American Movies
Asawin Suebsaeng
December 17, 2014
Indeed, the Ministry of Interior released a report of 141 investigations against candidates accused of vote-buying around Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Wild and Wooly Elections
Anna Nemtsova
October 24, 2014
On one of his social network pages Yarosh demanded Poroshenko make major changes in the ministry of interior.
Ukraine’s President Wowed Congress, But His Party Has a Dark Side
Anna Nemtsova
September 19, 2014
The Ministry of Finance nonetheless apparently authorized him to attend the conference in Nigeria.
How Bureaucrats Let Ebola Spread to Nigeria
Michael Daly
August 14, 2014
Ministry of Health protocols called for Sawyer to be to be monitored daily for 21 days.
How Bureaucrats Let Ebola Spread to Nigeria
Michael Daly
August 14, 2014

Historical Examples of ministry

That same doing, is what we are congratulating the present Ministry upon.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
The ministry escaped censure when the vote was taken by a bare majority.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
During this session other difficulties were encountered by the Ministry.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
Mr. Disraeli's motion was lost, and the ministry was sustained.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
The end of Mr. Gladstone's first ministry was now drawing near.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook

British Dictionary definitions for ministry

ministry

noun plural -tries

the profession or duties of a minister of religion
the performance of these duties

ministers of religion or government ministers considered collectively

the tenure of a minister

a government department headed by a minister
the buildings of such a department

Word Origin for ministry

C14: from Latin ministerium service, from minister servant; see minister

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ministry

late 14c., "function of a priest," from Old French menistere "service, ministry; position, post, employment," and directly from Latin ministerium "office, service, attendance, ministry," from minister (see minister (n.)). Began to be used 1916 as name of certain departments in British government.