ministry

Universal Words noun (plural ministries) 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: He was an excellent candidate for the Baptist ministry. 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