# minister

/ˈmɪnəstɝ/ (US) · /mˈɪnɪstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/minister
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. government official

noun · CEFR B2

a high-ranking politician who is in charge of a specific government department.

For teachers: a senior politician who heads a government ministry or department, responsible for policy and administration.

- The health minister announced a new plan to build more hospitals.
- The finance minister faced intense questioning from the press regarding the proposed changes to the national tax code.

Usage: In many parliamentary systems, the title is used for cabinet-level officials.

### 2. religious leader

noun · CEFR B2

a person trained to lead religious ceremonies and care for people in a church.

For teachers: an ordained member of the clergy, particularly in Protestant denominations, authorised to perform offices and provide pastoral care.

- The minister gave a moving speech during the Sunday morning service.
- After twenty years of service, the minister retired from the parish to focus on writing his theological memoirs.

Usage: Commonly used in Protestant contexts; 'priest' is more common in Catholic or Orthodox contexts.

### 3. diplomatic rank

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a high-level diplomat who works in a foreign country, just below an ambassador.

For teachers: a diplomatic representative who ranks below an ambassador but possesses significant plenipotentiary powers.

- The minister at the embassy handled the trade negotiations while the ambassador was away.
- The newly appointed minister plenipotentiary arrived in the capital to present his credentials to the foreign office.

Teaching tip: This is a technical diplomatic rank; in everyday conversation, people usually just say 'diplomat'.

### 4. to care for

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

to give help or care to someone who needs it.

For teachers: to attend to the needs of others or provide essential aid and service.

- The volunteers stayed late to minister to the needs of the flood victims.
- She spent her final years in the village, choosing to minister to the sick and elderly who had no other support.

Usage: Usually used with the preposition 'to'.

## Examples

- The health minister announced a new plan for hospitals.
- After the election, the prime minister appointed a new minister to oversee the country's education system.
- The foreign minister traveled abroad to negotiate a trade agreement that would benefit local businesses and strengthen international ties.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.