mule

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈmyül 

1

a

: a hybrid between a horse and a donkey

especially : the offspring of a male donkey and a mare

b

: a self-sterile plant whether hybrid or not

c

: a usually sterile hybrid

2

: a very stubborn person

3

: a machine for simultaneously drawing and twisting fiber into yarn or thread and winding it into cops

4

slang : a person who smuggles or delivers illicit substances (such as drugs)

mule

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a shoe or slipper without quarter or heel strap compare scuff

mule

3 of 3

noun (3)

variants or less commonly Mule

plural mules also Mules

: moscow mule

Mules are traditionally lime, vodka, and ginger beer served in a copper mug, a very refreshing beverage …

—Santino Mattioli

The marvelous take on a classic mule swaps ginger beer for ginger kombucha … for a crisp, fresh-tasting award-worthy cocktail …

—PR Newswire

Examples of mule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This pair at Amazon is nearly identical to the popular horsebit leather mules from Gucci—except more than a thousand dollars cheaper. —Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2025

The collection includes the Zuzu Mesh boot and Anastasia boot, which feature the same winding heel as the Inna mule, as well as the Vitorria pump and the Maria ballet flat. —Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025

Dressed in a carnival-ready color palette, Lipa wore a lilac Fanci Club bustier corset with lacy red undercladding, paired with indigo blue straight leg jeans, lilac Jimmy Choo Jenna MM mules, a gold chain necklace, and a leopard print Maison Margiela Loved to Death tote bag. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2025

Namely, going after the drug traffickers themselves by raiding Mexican cartel trap houses and robbing their mules, using equipment borrowed from their parents including night-vision goggles and beanbag shotguns. —Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French mul, from Latin mulus

Noun (2)

Middle French, a kind of slipper, from Latin mulleus shoe worn by magistrates

Noun (3)

short for moscow mule

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1562, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1996, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mule

• (as) stubborn as a mule
• Moscow mule
• mule deer
• mule skinner

Rhymes for mule

• boule
• brule
• buhl
• cool
• drool
• fool
• ghoul
• pool
• poul
• rule
• school
• spool

Kids Definition

mule

1 of 2 noun

ˈmyü(ə)l 

1

: the hybrid offspring of a horse and a donkey

especially : the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse

2

: a very stubborn person

3

: a machine that draws and twists fiber into yarn or thread and winds it onto spindles

mule

2 of 2 noun

: a shoe or slipper that is open at the heel

Etymology

Noun

Middle English mule "the offspring of a donkey and a horse," from early French mul (same meaning), from Latin multus (same meaning)

Noun

from early French mule "slipper," from mulleus "a shoe worn by public officials"

Medical Definition

mule

noun

ˈmyü(ə)l 

: a hybrid between a horse and a donkey

especially : the offspring of a male donkey and a mare