Minister definition

mĭnĭ-stər
ministered ministering ministers
See word origin
Frequency:
The definition of a minister is a person chosen to carry out given orders or church functions.

An example of a minister is someone appointed by a government to lead a governmental department.

An example of a minister is the person authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in a church.

noun
2
1
To give help (to)
verb
2
1
A person who is trained to perform religious ceremonies at a Protestant church.

The minister said a prayer on behalf of the entire congregation.

noun
2
1
A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.
noun
2
1
To attend to (the needs of); to tend; to take care (of); to give aid; to give service.

A newspaper headline: Couple leaves business world to minister to inner-city children.

verb
2
1
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(archaic) To afford, to give, to supply.
verb
1
0
An authorized diplomatic representative of a government, usually ranking next below an ambassador.
noun
1
1
To perform the functions of a cleric.
verb
1
1
To administer or dispense (a sacrament, for example).
verb
1
1
The superior of certain Roman Catholic religious orders.
noun
1
1
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To supply; provide.
verb
1
1
To serve as a minister in a church.
verb
1
1
To function as a clergyman or as the officiant in church worship.
verb
1
1
A person serving as an agent for another by carrying out specified orders or functions.
noun
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One who is authorized to perform religious functions in a Christian church, especially a Protestant church.
noun
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(roman catholic church) The superior in certain orders.
noun
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Anyone authorized to carry out or assist in the spiritual functions of a church.
noun
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An ordained member of a Protestant church; esp., a pastor.
noun
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A politician who heads a ministry (national or regional government department for public service).

He was newly appointed to be Minister of the Interior.

noun
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At a diplomacy, the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador.
noun
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0
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Minister is defined as to provide or give help.

An example of to minister is a therapist giving advice to a client.

verb
1
2
To attend to the wants and needs of others.

Volunteers ministered to the homeless after the flood.

verb
1
2
A person acting for another as agent and carrying out given orders or designs.
  • A person appointed by the head of a government to take charge of some department.
  • A diplomatic officer sent to a foreign nation to represent his or her government, usually ranking below an ambassador.
noun
1
2
A high officer of state appointed to head an executive or administrative department of government.
noun
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1
A person or thing thought of as serving as the agent of some power, force, etc.

A minister of evil.

noun
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1
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To administer.
verb
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1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
minister
Plural:
ministers

Origin of minister

  • Middle English from Old French ministre from Latin minister servant mei-2 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English ministre, from Old French ministre, from Latin minister (“an attendant, servant, assistant, a priest's assistant or other under official"), from minor (“less") + -ter; see minor.

    From Wiktionary

Minister Sentence Examples

  • Count Casimir Batthyany attacked him in The Times, and Szemere, who had been prime minister under him, published a bitter criticism of his acts and character, accusing him of arrogance, cowardice and duplicity.

  • This minister put me up for the night in Iowa.

  • And the words of the old minister came true.

  • He will conduct you to the Minister of War.

  • Anne Quincy Martin, after she married the minister fellow.

More sentences

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Words near minister in the Dictionary