Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who is a member of the cabinet: A cabinet minister is a senior government official, typically the head of a major government department, who is appointed by the head of government (such as the Prime Minister or President) to be part of the cabinet, the main executive decision-making body.
   • The job or position of a senior minister who is a member of the cabinet: This sense refers to the office, role, or portfolio held by such a person.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Person):
  • The new cabinet minister for health outlined her policy priorities.
  • Several cabinet ministers resigned from the government.
• Noun (Position/Job):
  • She was appointed to the cabinet minister for education.
  • Holding a cabinet minister is a position of great responsibility.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in parliamentary and presidential systems to distinguish senior, decision-making ministers from junior ministers or other government officials.
• In some contexts, "cabinet minister" can imply a specific rank within a hierarchy of ministers.

Variants and Related Words

• Minister: A more general term for a head of a government department. Not all ministers are necessarily in the cabinet.
• Cabinet: The group of senior ministers who meet regularly to decide government policy.
• Secretary (in some governments, e.g., the US): A title often equivalent to a cabinet minister (e.g., Secretary of State).

Synonyms

• Secretary (in certain governmental contexts)
• Department head
• Senior minister

Related Phrases

• Cabinet-level position: A job with the rank and authority of a cabinet minister.
• Inner cabinet: A smaller, core group of the most important cabinet ministers.

Noun

1. the job of a senior minister who is a member of the cabinet
2. a person who is a member of the cabinet