[count] 1 : a person whose job involves leading church services, performing religious ceremonies (such as marriages), and providing spiritual or religious guidance to other people : a member of the clergy in some Protestant churches 2 : an official who heads a government department or a major section of a department in some countries (such as Britain)
▪ (Brit) the Minister of Defence [=(US) the Secretary of Defense] — see also prime minister 3 : a person who represents his or her own government while living in a foreign country