ministerial
ministerial Lexical Profile
ministerial Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to a government minister or a state ministry.
"The prime minister announced a major reshuffle of ministerial positions within the cabinet."
Relating to a member of the clergy or the Christian ministry.
"She completed four years of theological seminary before beginning her ministerial duties at the local parish."
Designating an administrative act or duty carried out according to prescribed instructions or legal mandate without the exercise of personal judgment or discretion (in law).
"Issuing a marriage license to a qualified couple is a purely ministerial function of the county clerk."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American administrative law, a "ministerial" act refers to a routine duty that an official must perform precisely as prescribed by law without exercising personal discretion, contrasting with a "discretionary" act.
• Rhymes for ministerial
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-16th century from Middle French ministériel or Late Latin ministerialis ("of a servant or attendant"), from Latin ministerium ("office, service, or ministry").