ministerial

adjective

min·​is·​te·​ri·​al ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl How to pronounce ministerial (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a minister or the ministry
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
ministerially adverb

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 Simon Porte Jacquemus, 34, last night became the youngest fashion designer ever to be named Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the highest French ministerial award for cultural achievement. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2024 This week, at ministerial meetings for the Group of 20 major economies in Rio de Janeiro, Secretary of State Antony Blinken weathered complaints from his counterparts on the latest instance of the United States vetoing Security Council calls for an immediate cease-fire over Gaza. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 On the subject of friction, the third goal of the ministerial conference is facilitating dialogue. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2024 Nevertheless, Brazil is joining the U.N. and the United States in hosting a high-level discussion on Thursday on the margins of the G20 ministerial meeting. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024 At the 2022 ministerial council, Poland earmarked 197 million euros for the agency’s activities in the 2023 to 2025 period. Tereza Pultarova, Ars Technica, 16 Jan. 2024 One floor up, a study is complete with the traditional ministerial red boxes that are still used by the monarch. Megan Specia, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 In the final forty years of the ancien régime, Paris was gripped by drama, involving, among other things, royal affairs, riots over bread prices and ministerial despotism, and public demonstrations of innovations like the hot-air balloon. The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024 The sisters are still awaiting the results of a ministerial review of their case. Maggie Freleng, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ministerial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin ministeriālis "serving in an office (manorial or ecclesiastical)," going back to Late Latin, "serving, performing a duty," from Latin ministerium "activity of a servant, ministry" + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ministerial was in 1561

Dictionary Entries Near ministerial

Cite this Entry

“Ministerial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ministerial. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ministerial

adjective
min·​is·​te·​ri·​al ˌmin-ə-ˈstir-ē-əl How to pronounce ministerial (audio)
: of or relating to a minister or ministry

Legal Definition

ministerial

adjective
min·​is·​te·​ri·​al ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl How to pronounce ministerial (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on ministerial

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