ministerial
/,minis'tiəriəl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Relating to a government minister or ministry: Pertaining to the work, duties, or decisions of a government minister or a government department.
- Relating to a minister of religion: Pertaining to the duties, role, or office of a religious minister, such as a pastor or priest.
- Auxiliary or instrumental: (Less common) Describing something that serves as a means to an end or assists in the execution of a function.
Usage Examples
- Adjective (Government):
- The new ministerial directive will affect all public schools.
- She has extensive experience in ministerial positions.
- The decision requires ministerial approval.
- Adjective (Religion):
- He is undertaking his ministerial training at the seminary.
- Her ministerial duties include counseling and leading worship.
- Adjective (Auxiliary):
- The committee has a ministerial role, simply implementing the council's decisions.
Advanced Usage
- "Ministerial act/function": An action performed by an official or body that involves following instructions or applying rules without the exercise of personal discretion.
- The clerk's role in stamping the document was purely ministerial.
- "Ministerial responsibility/cabinet responsibility": A constitutional doctrine where government ministers are collectively responsible for government policy and individually responsible for their departments.
- The scandal led to questions about ministerial responsibility.
Variants and Related Words
- Minister (n): 1. A head of a government department. 2. A member of the clergy.
- Ministry (n): 1. A government department. 2. The profession or duties of a religious minister.
- Ministerially (adv): In a ministerial manner.
Synonyms
- Governmental, administrative, executive (for government sense).
- Pastoral, clerical, sacerdotal (for religious sense).
- Instrumental, auxiliary, subsidiary (for auxiliary sense).
Antonyms
- Non-governmental, legislative, judicial (for government sense).
- Lay, secular (for religious sense).
- Discretionary, policymaking (for auxiliary sense, as in a vs. act).
Adjective
- of or relating to a government minister or ministry
- ministerial decree
- of or relating to a minister of religion or the minister's office
- ministerial duties