• (British) IPA: /ˈmɪnɪstə/
• (America) IPA: /ˈmɪnɨstɚ/

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 politician who heads a ministry (national or regional government department for public service).

   He was newly appointed to be Minister of the Interior.

3. At a diplomacy, the rank of diplomat directly below ambassador.
4. A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument.
   • Bible, Book of Exodus 24:13

     Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua.

   • c. 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, “The VVinters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene ii]:

     I chose / Camillo for the minister, to poison / My friend Polixenes.

• ministerial
• ministry
• ministerium

• French: pasteur
• Portuguese: pastor
• Russian: свяще́нник
• Spanish: ministro

• French: ministre
• German: Minister, (female) Ministerin
• Portuguese: ministro
• Russian: мини́стр

• Russian: исполни́тель

minister (ministers, present participle ministering; past and past participle ministered)

1. (transitive) To attend to (the needs of); to tend; to take care (of); to give aid; to give service.
2. to function as a clergyman or as the officiant in church worship
3. (transitive, archaic) To afford, to give, to supply.
   • Bible, 2 Corinthians 9:10

     He that ministereth seed to the sower.

• German: sich kümmern, sorgen
• Russian: служи́ть
• Spanish: ministrar