ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ministerial

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌmɪnɪˈstiɹiəɫ// UK //mˌɪnɪstˈiəɹɪəl// min·is·te·ri·al Archaic

adj. relating to a government minister or the official work of a ministry. You use it to describe decisions, meetings, or documents that come from the highest level of government.

adj. relating to a government minister, a ministry, or the executive branch of government. Typically used in formal political and legal contexts to distinguish executive actions from legislative or judicial ones.


SIMPLE

The ministerial decision changed the new law.

CONTEXTUAL

The ministerial committee met to discuss the budget.

COMPLEX

The ministerial decree overrode the local council's previous ruling.

Origin

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

Usage

Typically used attributively before nouns like 'decision', 'meeting', or 'committee'.

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