ministerial
adjective
min·is·te·ri·al
ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl 
2
a
: being or having the characteristics of an act or duty prescribed by law as part of the duties of an administrative office
b
: relating to or being an act done after ascertaining the existence of a specified state of facts in obedience to a legal order without exercise of personal judgment or discretion
3
: acting or active as an agent
Examples of ministerial in a Sentence
She holds a ministerial office.
They function in a ministerial capacity in the embassy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Takaichi’s career in politics spans across a handful of ministerial posts and a decade in Japan’s congress.
—
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 21 Oct. 2025
Ishin, unlike Komeito, is not taking any ministerial seats in Takaichi’s cabinet, at least for now.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
But over the weekend, the Japan Times reported that the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) planned to seek Komeito’s backing for a joint prime ministerial candidate.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
The most notable change to the ministerial picks was incoming Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, head of the Paris police, who replaces Bruno Retailleau, leader of the conservative Republicans Party and who harbours his own presidential ambitions.
—CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ministerial
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Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 21 Oct. 2025
Ishin, unlike Komeito, is not taking any ministerial seats in Takaichi’s cabinet, at least for now.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
But over the weekend, the Japan Times reported that the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) planned to seek Komeito’s backing for a joint prime ministerial candidate.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
The most notable change to the ministerial picks was incoming Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, head of the Paris police, who replaces Bruno Retailleau, leader of the conservative Republicans Party and who harbours his own presidential ambitions.
—CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ministerial
Cite this Entry
“Ministerial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ministerial. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ministerial
adjective
min·is·te·ri·al
ˌmin-ə-ˈstir-ē-əl
: of or relating to a minister or ministry
Legal Definition
ministerial
adjective
min·is·te·ri·al
ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl
1
: being or having the characteristics of an act or duty prescribed by law as part of the duties of an administrative office
2
: relating to or being an act done after ascertaining the existence of a specified state of facts in obedience to legal and especially statutory mandate without exercise of personal judgment or discretion see also mandamus compare discretionary
3
: relating to a minister or ministry
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