mince

1 of 2

verb

ˈmin(t)s 

minced; mincing

transitive verb

1

a

: to cut or chop into very small pieces

She minced the garlic.

b

: to subdivide minutely

especially : to damage by cutting up

The director minced up the play.

2

: to utter or pronounce with affectation

minced the word in the manner of the old lady

3

a

archaic : minimize

b

: to restrain (words) within the bounds of decorum

minced no words in stating his dislike

—J. T. Farrell

intransitive verb

: to walk with short steps in a prim affected manner

The comedian minced across the stage.

mincer noun

mince

2 of 2

noun

1

: small chopped bits (as of food)

specifically : mincemeat

2

British : hamburger sense 1a

Synonyms

Verb

• chop
• dice
• hash

Examples of mince in a Sentence

Verb

She minced the onions.

minced some garlic and added it to the stew

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Garlic: Finely mince four cloves of garlic to flavor the potatoes. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024

Martha Stewart might be one to mince garlic but never words. —Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024

Don’t mince words or waste time arguing over petty differences. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2024

During a Racine campaign stop, vice presidential candidate Tim Walz didn't mince words about presidential candidate Donald Trump. —Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French mincer, from Vulgar Latin *minutiare, from Latin minutia smallness — more at minutia

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mince

• mince no words
• not mince (one's) words

Kids Definition

mince

1 of 2 verb

ˈmin(t)s 

minced; mincing

1

: to cut into very small pieces

2

: to act, walk, or speak in an unnaturally dainty way

mincingly

ˈmin(t)-siŋ-lē

adverb

mince

2 of 2 noun

: small bits into which something is chopped

especially : mincemeat