ministry

[ min-uh-stree ]
See synonyms for ministry on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural min·is·tries.
  1. the service, functions, or profession of a minister of religion.

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

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

  2. the body of ministers of state.

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

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

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

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

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

Origin of ministry

1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin ministerium, from minister minister + -ium -ium

Other words from ministry

  • pre·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. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for ministry

ministry

/ (ˈmɪnɪstrɪ) /


nounplural -tries
    • the profession or duties of a minister of religion

    • the performance of these duties

  1. ministers of religion or government ministers considered collectively

  1. the tenure of a minister

    • a government department headed by a minister

    • the buildings of such a department

Origin of ministry

1
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