ministerial

comparative more ministerial · superlative most ministerial

1. Related to a religious minister or ministry.
2. Related to a governmental minister or ministry.

   In over a quarter of a century of writing this column, there has been no end of scandals, mishaps, errors and general cock-ups resulting from ministerial incompetence.

   2023 November 15, Christian Wolmar, “Ministers should carry the can for ticket office fiasco”, in RAIL, number 996, page 46

3. Having the power to wield delegated executive authority.
4. especiallylawServing as an instrument or means (i.e., procedural or ancillary, not substantive).

   Filling out the form under the direction of a lawyer is a ministerial task performed by a legal secretary.

   Synonyms: instrumental

plural ministerials

1. historicalA member of the mediaeval estate or caste of unfree nobles.

   By the time of the Nibelungenlied the word was used to denote a wide variety of usually ecclesiastic or royal administrators, from the lowest, unfree ministerial to an enfeoffed judge.

   2002, Francis G. Gentry, The Nibelungen Tradition, page 142

2. A meeting of government ministers from partner countries.

   The NATO ministerial was attended by the defence ministers of all member states.