ministry

American  

[min-uh-stree] / ˈmɪn ə stri /

noun

• ministries
  plural

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

2. the body or class of ministers of religion; clergy.

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

4. the body of ministers of state.

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

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

7. the term of office of a minister of state.

8. an act or instance of ministering; ministration; service.

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

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ministry British  

/ ˈmɪnɪstrɪ /

noun

1. 1. the profession or duties of a minister of religion

   2. the performance of these duties

2. ministers of religion or government ministers considered collectively

3. the tenure of a minister

4. 1. a government department headed by a minister

   2. the buildings of such a department

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preministry
  noun
• pseudoministry
  noun
• underministry
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ministries
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ministry ministries

"Today's world is fluid and turbulent," he said in translated remarks provided by Indonesia's foreign ministry.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Poland's foreign ministry also said on Thursday that it was "very disappointed" and had summoned Israel's ambassador in Warsaw.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The court ruling, issued on Monday, said ministry guidelines were already in place to ensure "unobstructed" elephant corridors, but those routes have often been impeded.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

The French interior ministry responded by saying it would "constitute a violation of French sovereignty".

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

“I hope you’ve thought about coming to join us at the ministry, Olanna. We need first-class brains like yours,” Chief Okonji said.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

They have been asked to provide an equivalency assessment of their grades -- one they cannot possibly meet because, he said, "there are no functioning ministries or institutions" in Gaza.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

To make visits cooler, the ministries of tourism and culture are allowing some attractions to stay open into the evening.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 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

Modi’s government has built a new Parliament building, relocated the prime minister’s office and is moving key ministries into new administrative complexes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

Kabul Radio, the ministries of Communication and the Interior, and the Foreign Ministry building had also been captured.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

Related Words

• bureau
• department