foreign minister

USAGE SUMMARY

"foreign minister" is an entirely correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, you might say, "The foreign minister of Mexico was in attendance at the UN meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I am foreign minister.

The Guardian

The foreign minister sighed.

The New Yorker

He is now foreign minister.

The Economist

The Japanese foreign minister agreed.

The New York Times

France's foreign minister echoed her comments.

The New York Times

Ieng Sary, their foreign minister, is 82.

The Economist

Israel's foreign minister sided with Putin.

The New York Times

Today, Germany has a gay foreign minister.

The New York Times

France's new humanitarian foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner?

The Economist

He became the foreign minister in 2009.

The New York Times

Zimbabwe, like Iraq, sent its foreign minister.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "foreign minister", ensure you specify the country or context to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The French foreign minister" is more specific than simply "the foreign minister".

Common error

Avoid capitalizing "foreign minister" unless it's part of a title (e.g., Foreign Minister Smith) or the beginning of a sentence. Using lowercase is appropriate in most other contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foreign minister" functions primarily as a noun phrase, identifying the cabinet official responsible for a country's foreign relations. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "foreign minister" is a commonly used and grammatically sound noun phrase that identifies the government official responsible for a country's foreign policy. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely used. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Encyclopedia sources. When using the phrase, it's important to provide context by specifying the country. Alternative phrases such as "minister of foreign affairs" or "secretary of state" can be used, but "foreign minister" maintains a neutral tone suitable for various professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minister of foreign affairs

A more formal title, emphasizing the ministerial role in foreign affairs.

foreign secretary

A different title but referring to the same role.

secretary of state

The US equivalent of a foreign minister, responsible for foreign policy.

head of foreign ministry

Describes the person in charge of the entire foreign ministry.

chief diplomat

Highlights the diplomatic function of the role, focusing on negotiation and international relations.

external affairs minister

Another term used in some countries emphasizing dealings with entities outside the country.

state department head

Refers to the leader of a country's department of state.

minister for international relations

Focuses on the international aspect of the minister's responsibilities.

diplomatic representative

A general term for someone representing a country's interests abroad.

government's foreign policy spokesperson

Emphasizes the role of communicating the government's foreign policy.

FAQs

How is "foreign minister" different from "secretary of state"?

While both terms refer to the official in charge of a country's foreign affairs, "secretary of state" is primarily used in the United States, whereas "foreign minister" is more common in other countries.

What are the responsibilities of a "foreign minister"?

A "foreign minister" is typically responsible for conducting diplomatic relations, representing their country in international forums, and advising the government on foreign policy.

Which is correct, "foreign minister" or "minister of foreign affairs"?

Both phrases are correct and largely interchangeable. "Minister of foreign affairs" is a more formal and descriptive title.

Can "foreign minister" be used to refer to any country's representative?

Yes, "foreign minister" is a general term applicable to the official responsible for foreign affairs in most countries, though specific titles may vary.