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
Inside those tents, patients are blindfolded and handcuffed to their beds, in accordance with a health ministry document outlining policies for the site, which was reviewed by The Times.
—Bilal Shbair, New York Times, 6 June 2024
Japan’s birth rate fell to a record low of 1.20 in 2023, according to figures released Wednesday by Japan’s health ministry.
—Seamus Webster, Fortune, 6 June 2024
That list includes members of the Council of Ministers; Council of State; the National Assembly; the Supreme Court; members of the military and the Ministry of Interior, and senior officials in all ministries.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 28 May 2024
According to the Gaza health ministry, nearly 35,000 Palestinians have died since Oct. 7 — the day Hamas launched a massive attack against Israel and sparked the current conflict.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 12 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for ministry 
Bilal Shbair, New York Times, 6 June 2024
Japan’s birth rate fell to a record low of 1.20 in 2023, according to figures released Wednesday by Japan’s health ministry.
—Seamus Webster, Fortune, 6 June 2024
That list includes members of the Council of Ministers; Council of State; the National Assembly; the Supreme Court; members of the military and the Ministry of Interior, and senior officials in all ministries.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 28 May 2024
According to the Gaza health ministry, nearly 35,000 Palestinians have died since Oct. 7 — the day Hamas launched a massive attack against Israel and sparked the current conflict.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 12 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for ministry
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 10 Jun. 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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