Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of, relating to, or characteristic of a minister of religion or of the ministry.
  • adjective Of or relating to administrative and executive duties and functions of government.
  • adjective Law Of, relating to, or being a mandatory act or duty admitting of no personal discretion or judgment in its performance.
  • adjective Acting or serving as an agent; instrumental.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Performing service; ministering or ministrant; subservient; subsidiary.
  • Of or pertaining to a minister or ministry of state; belonging to executive as distinguished from legislative or judicial office: as, ministerial functions.
  • Pertaining to the office, character, or habits of a clergyman; clerical: as, ministerial garments.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Of or pertaining to ministry or service; serving; attendant.
  • adjective Of or pertaining to the office of a minister or to the ministry as a body, whether civil or sacerdotal.
  • adjective Tending to advance or promote; contributive.
  • adjective the benches in the House of Commons occupied by members of the cabinet and their supporters; -- also, the persons occupying them.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Related to a religious minister or ministry.
  • adjective Related to a governmental minister or ministry.
  • adjective Having the power to wield delegated executive authority.
  • adjective Especially law Serving as an instrument or means (i.e., procedural or ancillary, not substantive).

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective of or relating to a minister of religion or the minister's office
  • adjective of or relating to a government minister or ministry

Etymologies

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Examples

  • We need help from United Nations regarding this matter and discussion is very urgent in ministerial level.

    Global Voices in English » Bangladesh, India: No To Tipaimukh Dam 2009

  • He addressed two issues — exchange rates and fiscal strategies — expected to take center stage in ministerial meetings around the International Monetary Fund's annual gathering this week and ahead of the Group of 20 summits in coming weeks.

    Geithner Takes Aim at China Currency Ian Talley 2010

  • What is characteristic was a notable level of party self-interest evident in ministerial decision-making (especially in regard to the timing and method of counts and the design of ballot papers).

    Banana Republic News 2007

  • What is characteristic was a notable level of party self-interest evident in ministerial decision-making (especially in regard to the timing and method of counts and the design of ballot papers).

    Archive 2007-10-21 2007

  • A few days later as I returned from town I saw a tall man in ministerial garb coming from the house next door.

    Madeleine: An Autobiography Madeleine 1919

  • A man in ministerial garb, who sat in the section opposite me, came across the aisle and, sitting down beside me, undertook to quiet Baby.

    Madeleine: An Autobiography Madeleine 1919

  • He believes working on a long-term ministerial alliance -- not just one to meet during the summer months

    thetowntalk.com - 2010

  • They also emphasised the importance of being able to count on long-term ministerial action, in contrast to what had become the norm since 1999.

    Cineuropa 2009

  • Under what's known as the "ministerial exception," all 12 federal circuits have in recent decades said no, recognizing some level of autonomy for hiring decisions within the church.

    Work, Pray, Sue 2011

  • "When the production is comfortable, that is the right time to take a view on freeing control," he said, adding that the finance minister is expected to soon call a ministerial panel's meeting to discuss the issue.

    Farm Minister: India Set for Record Wheat Output Rajesh Roy 2012

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