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
Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed 40 people around the eastern city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley on Wednesday, according to the country’s health ministry, and at dusk more strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs.
—Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Newsweek has emailed the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministries for comment.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Here's how the news is developing. 10:28 AM PST
Death toll in Lebanon crosses 3,000: Health ministry
More than 3,000 have been killed since the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began over a year ago, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
According to the health ministry, all of these healthcare facilities were damaged in the first month of Israel’s offensive since late September.
—Allegra Goodwin and Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ministry 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Newsweek has emailed the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministries for comment.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Here's how the news is developing. 10:28 AM PST
Death toll in Lebanon crosses 3,000: Health ministry
More than 3,000 have been killed since the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began over a year ago, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024
According to the health ministry, all of these healthcare facilities were damaged in the first month of Israel’s offensive since late September.
—Allegra Goodwin and Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ministry
Dictionary Entries Near ministry
Cite this Entry
“Ministry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ministry. Accessed 22 Nov. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share