1. (n.) The act of ministering; ministration; service; also (in some countries) a government agency, as the Ministry of Defense\.

2. (n.) Agency; instrumentality.

3. (n.) The office, duties, or functions of a minister, servant, or agent; ecclesiastical, executive, or ambassadorial function or profession.

4. (n.) The body of ministers of state; also, the clergy, as a body.

5. (n.) Administration; rule; term in power; as, the ministry of Pitt.

Sacred College administration advisory council agency agent aid assistance attendance auspices bailiwick benefit bureau bureaucracy cabinet camarilla care channel charge clergy clerical order clericals comfort commissariat constablery constablewick constabulary council council of state cure custodianship custody department directorate divan ease employ employment good offices governance government guardianship guidance hands help hierarchy higher echelons higher-ups holy orders instrument instrumentality instrumentation jurisdiction keeping kitchen cabinet management mean medium ministration municipality office offices officialdom organ oversight pastorage pastorate pastorship patronage peonage prelacy presbytery priestery priesthood privy council protection protectorship rabbinate relief religion remedy rescue ruling class ruling classes sacred calling safe hands secretariat serfdom service servitium servitorship servitude shadow cabinet sheriffalty sheriffwick shrievalty slavery stewardship succor support tendance the Establishment the administration the authorities the church the cloth the ingroup the interests the people upstairs the power elite the power structure the pulpit the top them therapy they top brass tutelage vehicle ward wardenship wardship watch and ward wing