1.ministry的意思是“政府的部”,与美式英语中的department同义,首字母常大写且常与of连用。
2.ministry还可用作集合名词,作“(全体)牧师”解; 其单数形式还可指“牧师的职责〔服务期限〕”,此时ministry常与the连用。

The army, navy and airforce are all controlled by the Ministry of Defence.陆海空三军均由国防部管辖。
His parents intended him for the ministry.他父母有意让他当牧师。
Some students want to go into the ministry after graduation.有些学生毕业后想从事牧师工作。

［同义词］   department
［词源］＜拉丁语ministerium(办公室,办公处)