ministers

Noun

minister (plural ministers)

1. A person who is trained to preach, to perform religious ceremonies, and to afford pastoral care at a Protestant church.
   • The minister said a prayer on behalf of the entire congregation.
2. A person (either a layperson or an ordained clergy member) who is commissioned to perform some act on behalf of the Catholic Church.
3. A politician who heads a ministry
   • He was newly appointed to be Minister of the Interior.

   Synonyms:

   government minister

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.
   • […], I choſe / Camillo for the miniſter, to poyſon / My friend Polixenes: […]c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...

See all 8 meanings of minister