minnow

noun

min·​now ˈmi-(ˌ)nō 

plural minnows also minnow

1

a

: a small cyprinid, killifish, or topminnow

b

: any of various small fish that are less than a designated size and are not game fish

2

: a live or artificial minnow used as bait

Examples of minnow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The game’s megaliths did not redesign the Champions League to empower the minnows. —Sam Lee, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024

They will be seeded in the draw which takes place on Monday, which means the club should get an easier tie against one of Europe’s minnows. —Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 3 Aug. 2024

That was before the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia broke up and before current minnows like San Marino, Andorra and Gibraltar obtained membership of FIFA and UEFA. —Graham Dunbar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024

Both outfits are owned by John Joseph Hurry, a 57-year old financial minnow who has morphed into Finra’s white whale. —Sergei Klebnikov, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English menawe; akin to Old English myne minnow, Old High German munewa, a kind of fish

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

minnow

noun

min·​now ˈmin-ō 

plural minnows also minnow

: any of various small freshwater fishes (as a dace or shiner) related to the carps

also : any of various small fishes that resemble minnows