ministerial

[ min-uh-steer-ee-uhl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to the ministry of religion, or to a minister or other member of the clergy.
2. pertaining to a ministry or minister of state.
3. pertaining to or invested with delegated executive authority.
4. of ministry or service.
5. serving as an instrument or means; instrumental.

ministerial

/ ˌmɪnɪˈstɪərɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a minister of religion or his office
2. of or relating to a government minister or ministry

   a ministerial act

3. often capital of or supporting the ministry or government against the opposition
4. law relating to or possessing delegated executive authority
5. law (of an office, duty, etc) requiring the following of instructions, without power to exercise any personal discretion in doing so
6. acting as an agent or cause; instrumental

Derived Forms

• ˌminisˈterially, adverb

Other Words From

• minis·teri·al·ly adverb
• anti·minis·teri·al adjective
• anti·minis·teri·al·ly adverb
• inter·minis·teri·al adjective
• nonmin·is·teri·al adjective
• nonmin·is·teri·al·ly adverb
• pseudo·minis·teri·al adjective
• quasi-minis·teri·al adjective
• semi·minis·teri·al adjective
• unmin·is·teri·al adjective
• unmin·is·teri·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ministerial¹

1555–65; < Late Latin ministeriālis, equivalent to Latin ministeri ( um ) ministry + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Gray said all the engagements were “official ministerial business”, and that he had not planned to attend only Aberdeen club matches.

From BBC

Meanwhile, the prime minister's independent adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, will now have the power to launch investigations into alleged breaches of the code without seeking the consent of the prime minister.

From BBC

There are only 121 Conservative MPs and almost as many shadow ministerial roles to fill, if she wants to man-mark every single minister in government with their own shadow.

From BBC

It also does not mean anything for Mr Hamilton’s decision - the Alba Party had called for Nicola Sturgeon to be re-investigated, but former ministers are not subject to the discipline of the ministerial code.

From BBC

The AGO had refused to answer the Times' Freedom of Information request about Braverman's emails, saying it would be too costly to search her ministerial inbox.

From BBC

Related Words

• consular
• diplomatic