/ ˈmɪnɪstri; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] ( BrE ) a government department that has a particular area of responsibility :
the Ministry of Defence
a ministry spokesperson
2.
the Ministry [ sing.+ sing./pl. v . ] ministers of religion, especially Protestant ministers, when they are mentioned as a group
3.
[ C , usually sing. ] the work and duties of a minister in the Church; the period of time spent working as a minister in the Church
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in senses 2 and 3): from Latin ministerium , from minister servant, from minus less.