Meaning

(Protestantism) A person who is trained to preach, to perform religious ceremonies, and to afford pastoral care at a Protestant church..

Definitions by Sense

1. (Protestantism) A person who is trained to preach, to perform religious ceremonies, and to afford pastoral care at a Protestant church.
2. (Roman Catholicism) A person (either a layperson or an ordained clergy member) who is commissioned to perform some act on behalf of the Catholic Church.
3. (government) A politician who heads a ministry
4. In diplomacy, the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador.
5. A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.
6. (intransitive, used with "to") To attend to (the needs of); to tend; to take care (of); to give aid; to give service.
7. (intransitive) To function as a clergyman or as the officiant in church worship.
8. (transitive, archaic) To afford, to give, to supply.

Example Sentences

The minister said a prayer on behalf of the entire congregation.

He was newly appointed to be Minister of the Interior.

Ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and hands they are, must be answerable to God and man.

[…], I choſe / Camillo for the miniſter, to poyſon / My friend Polixenes: […]

And Moſes roſe vp, and his miniſter Ioſhua: and Moſes went vp into the mount of God.

I do vvell beleeue your Highneſſe, and did it to miniſter occaſion to theſe Gentlemen, […]

([…] Now he that miniſtreth ſeede to the ſower, both miniſter bread for your foode, and multiply your ſeede ſowen, and encreaſe the fruites of your righteouſneſſe)

We minister to God reason to suspect us.

Word Forms

• ministers
• ministering
• ministered

Synonyms for minister

Related Words

When Should You Use Minister?

Use minister when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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