min·is·ter
ˈmi-nə-stər 
1
: agent
the angels are ministers of the divine will—
H. P. Liddon
H. P. Liddon2
a
: one officiating or assisting the officiant in church worship
b
: a clergyman or clergywoman especially of a Protestant communion
3
a
: the superior (see superior entry 2 sense 1) of one of several religious orders
called also minister-general
b
: the assistant to the rector or the bursar of a Jesuit house
4
: a high officer of state entrusted with the management of a division of governmental activities
the British Minister of Defence
5
a
: a diplomatic representative (such as an ambassador) accredited to the court (see court entry 1 sense 1c) or seat of government of a foreign state
b
: a diplomatic representative ranking below an ambassador
ministered; ministering
ˈmi-nə-st(ə-)riŋ
1
: to function as a minister of religion
2
: to give aid or service
minister to the sick
Examples of minister in a Sentence
Noun
the British ministers at the international peace conference
our minister gives an interesting sermon every week
Verb
volunteered to help minister to the sick at the local hospice
Recent Examples on the Web
Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025
Activists, ministers, and community members came and went, day and night, their booming voices carrying off into the Philadelphia air.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
He was born in Africa, lived in Pakistan, Lebanon, and Israel, and ministered for years in England.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for minister
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Noun
The tourism minister also expressed confidence that the sector could contribute 10% of GDP by 2030, aiming to raise it to 20% eventually.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025
Activists, ministers, and community members came and went, day and night, their booming voices carrying off into the Philadelphia air.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
Timothy grew up ministering alongside his father before becoming a music minister and eventually getting licensed.
—Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
He was born in Africa, lived in Pakistan, Lebanon, and Israel, and ministered for years in England.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for minister
Cite this Entry
“Minister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minister. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
minister
1 of 2 noun
min·is·ter
ˈmin-ə-stər
1
a
: one who performs religious ceremonies in church services
b
: a member of the clergy of a Protestant church
2
: a high official who heads a department of the government
3
: a government representative in a foreign country
minister
2 of 2 verb
ministered; ministering
-st(ə-)riŋ
: to give aid : serve
minister to the sick
ministration
noun
ˌmin-ə-ˈstrā-shən
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