ministry
Americannoun
plural
ministries-
the service, functions, or profession of a minister of religion.
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the body or class of ministers of religion; clergy.
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the service, function, or office of a minister of state.
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the body of ministers of state.
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(usually initial capital letter) any of the administrative governmental departments of certain countries usually under the direction of a minister of state.
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(usually initial capital letter) the building that houses such an administrative department.
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the term of office of a minister of state.
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an act or instance of ministering; ministration; service.
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something that serves as an agency, instrument, or means.
noun
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the profession or duties of a minister of religion
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the performance of these duties
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ministers of religion or government ministers considered collectively
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the tenure of a minister
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a government department headed by a minister
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the buildings of such a department
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Other Word Forms
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
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"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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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.
Prosecutors said Lu conspired with China’s Ministry of Public Security to open a police station in New York.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
On Tuesday, Kuwait’s Interior Ministry identified the men in the boat as members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and accused them of trying to infiltrate Kuwait’s largest island.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
"In addition, supervision from the Ministry of Religion and the community regarding these newly emerging Islamic boarding schools must be stricter."
From BBC • May 13, 2026
"There is an ongoing diplomatic track with the United States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not go into further detail at this time," a spokesperson said.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
See, the Ministry wanted ter send a bunch o’ Aurors, but Dumbledore said I’d do,” said Hagrid proudly, throwing out his chest and tucking his thumbs into his pockets.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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.
