ministry
Americannoun
-
ministries
plural
-
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.
noun
-
-
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
-
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of ministry
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin ministerium, from minister minister + -ium -ium
Explanation
If you are discussing the duties of your minister or rabbi, you are talking about his or her ministry — the work the religious leader does in serving a congregation. The noun ministry also refers to a group of clergy. Even if you do not lead a religious community, you can still have a ministry, as the word means to provide information or services about an organization or cause. The charity can have a ministry to serve homeless people. The noun ministry can also refer to a government department. In the United Kingdom, for example, the Ministry of Defense oversees the armed forces. A ministry can also be the building where this sort of government work occurs.
Vocabulary lists containing ministry
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A spokesman for the Turkish foreign ministry said he had no information on the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Hackers used a "hybrid model" that combined AI agents, such as the open-source AI agent platform OpenClaw, to assist in the attacks, the ministry said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
The Russian agriculture ministry announced on Wednesday that it was working to redirect cargo flows to ports in the Baltic and Caspian Seas as well as land routes.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
They are united by their faith and shared ministry, the Ohio Sisters Justice Network, whose banner described the network’s use of “gospel justice” to protect democracy, end human trafficking and support immigrants.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
Soon afterward, Charles Hammond left the ministry and wrote a book about the spirits.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
He said meetings between investors and government ministries -- sometimes involving confidential information -- can help calm some fears and promote a better image of the country and region.
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026
BBC News Pidgin found the agency had secured office space within the Federal Secretariat, the sprawling government complex housing many ministries in Abuja.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Barrot said the attacks targeted government ministries, companies, and service operators, with the aim "either of capturing information or sabotaging operations, for example rail infrastructure, as was the case in Poland".
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
It presented itself as a body created to attract foreign investment into Africa's most populous country, operating from an office inside the Federal Secretariat in Abuja - the huge complex that houses Nigeria's government ministries.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
The Portuguese marveled at how efficiently the Kingdom of Kongo collected taxes and assembled its court and ministries.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
