ministry
noun
min·is·try
ˈmi-nə-strē 
plural ministries
1
: ministration
the ingenuity of destruction … had outrun the ministry of healing—
Dixon Wecter
Dixon Wecter2
: the office, duties, or functions of a minister
was well prepared for the ministry
4
: a person or thing through which something is accomplished : agency, instrumentality
heroic believers become such by the ministry of heroic pain—Austin Phelps
Austin Phelps5
: the period of service or office of a minister or ministry
Many reforms were enacted during his ministry.
6
often capitalized
a
: the body of ministers governing a nation or state from which a smaller cabinet (see cabinet entry 1 sense 3b) is sometimes selected
b
: the group of ministers constituting a cabinet
7
a
: a government department presided over by a minister
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
b
: the building in which the business of a ministry is transacted
Synonyms
Examples of ministry in a Sentence
a member of the ministry
She learned a lot during her first year of ministry.
Recent Examples on the Web
As the independent Russian news website Meduza notes, Russia’s national anthem—which is 76 beats per minute—falls outside the culture ministry’s range.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
Last September, a committee of Israeli art professionals, appointed by the culture ministry, chose Patir to go to Venice; a month later, Hamas attacked Israel.
—Alex Marshall, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
It is integrated into local ministries critical for civilian functions.
—Shira Efron, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2024
The airstrike destroyed the consulate building in the capital Damascus, killing at least seven officials including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and senior commander Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Iran’s foreign ministry said at the time.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
The two soon met up in McAllen, Texas, near the Mexican border, giving food to children through a faith ministry program.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2024
China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday raised objection to Japan’s prospective new role.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune Asia, 10 Apr. 2024
In Orenburg, a city of more than half a million down river from Orsk, the peak is expected there on Wednesday, Russia’s emergency ministry said.
—Reuters, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
The contract is for Google and Amazon to provide AI and cloud computing services to the Israeli government and military, according to the Israeli finance ministry, which announced the deal in 2021.
—Billy Perrigo, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
Last September, a committee of Israeli art professionals, appointed by the culture ministry, chose Patir to go to Venice; a month later, Hamas attacked Israel.
—Alex Marshall, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024
It is integrated into local ministries critical for civilian functions.
—Shira Efron, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2024
The airstrike destroyed the consulate building in the capital Damascus, killing at least seven officials including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and senior commander Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Iran’s foreign ministry said at the time.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
The two soon met up in McAllen, Texas, near the Mexican border, giving food to children through a faith ministry program.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2024
China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday raised objection to Japan’s prospective new role.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune Asia, 10 Apr. 2024
In Orenburg, a city of more than half a million down river from Orsk, the peak is expected there on Wednesday, Russia’s emergency ministry said.
—Reuters, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
The contract is for Google and Amazon to provide AI and cloud computing services to the Israeli government and military, according to the Israeli finance ministry, which announced the deal in 2021.
—Billy Perrigo, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ministry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ministry
Cite this Entry
“Ministry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ministry. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ministry
noun
min·is·try
ˈmin-ə-strē
plural ministries
1
: the action of ministering
2
: the office, duties, or work of a minister
3
a
: the body of ministers governing a nation or state
b
: a government department headed by a minister
c
: the building in which a ministry is housed
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