What does "ministerial" mean?

1. (government administration) relating to a government minister or their department. 2. (religious service) relating to a priest or a minister in a church. 3. (procedural or delegated) describing a task that must be done exactly as ordered, without using personal judgment. 4. (high-level meeting) a formal meeting between government ministers from different countries.

How do you use "ministerial"?

Commonly used in collocations like 'ministerial post', 'ministerial responsibility', or 'ministerial decree'. Often describes the specific work or 'calling' of a member of the clergy.

ministerial

adj. · n.

US //ˌmɪnɪˈstiɹiəɫ// UK //mˌɪnɪstˈiəɹɪəl// min·is·te·ri·al

1 government administration (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal Law

relating to a government minister or their department.

pertaining to a government minister or the administrative department they oversee.

Example

The prime minister made several ministerial changes to the cabinet this morning.

Example

The ministerial task force was established to address the housing crisis, drawing experts from across several government departments.

Usage

Commonly used in collocations like 'ministerial post', 'ministerial responsibility', or 'ministerial decree'.
2 religious service (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal Religion

relating to a priest or a minister in a church.

relating to the office or functions of a religious minister or the clergy.

Example

He felt a ministerial calling and decided to join the church.

Example

The bishop's ministerial duties included visiting remote parishes and overseeing the ordination of new deacons.

Usage

Often describes the specific work or 'calling' of a member of the clergy.
- lay

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3 procedural or delegated (adj.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Formal Law

describing a task that must be done exactly as ordered, without using personal judgment.

describing an act or duty performed according to legal instructions without the exercise of personal judgment or discretion.

Example

The clerk's job was purely ministerial, as he simply had to sign the papers.

Example

The court ruled that the official's failure to file the document was a breach of a ministerial duty rather than a discretionary one.

Teacher's tip

In legal contexts, 'ministerial' is the opposite of 'discretionary'; it means the person has no choice but to follow the rule.
- discretionary
4 high-level meeting (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Law

a formal meeting between government ministers from different countries.

a formal conference or meeting attended by government ministers, typically to discuss international policy.

Example

The trade ministerial ended without a final agreement on taxes.

Example

The upcoming WTO ministerial is expected to focus on agricultural subsidies and digital trade regulations.

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French ministeriel, equivalent to minister + -ial. Doublet of minstrel and ministerialis.