Learn English – Minister/Ministry of vs. Minister for

phrase-meaningprepositions

Does it make any difference to use either of or for after the word minister?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English gives the following examples:

  • the Minister of Agriculture

  • the Minister for Foreign Affairs

However, this doesn't seem to work for the word ministry since the only preposition which has been used both in Longman and Oxford is of:

  • the Ministry of Agriculture (Longman Contemporary)

  • the Ministry of Defence (Oxford Advance Learner's)

Best Answer

You are correct in thinking of is usually used with Ministry

The Ministry of Silly Walks

but it may also depend on how the title is phrased

Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice

Ministry of Propagation.... would not sound correct.

I think your question is actually a more general question about the preposition rules for using either "Ministry" or "Society" or "Department" or "Office"

Certain wordings could only use for

Ministry for the Advancement of...
Ministry for the Preservation of...
Ministry for Homeland Defense...
Ministry for Transport
Ministry for Use of Solar Power

and others could go either way

Ministry of Trade
Ministry for Trade

Ministry of Silly Walks
Ministry for Silly Walks

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