1
: a servile dependent, follower, or underling
He's one of the boss's minions.
2
: one highly favored : idol
his great charity to the poor renders him the minion of the people—
Jonas Hanway
Jonas Hanway3
: a subordinate (see subordinate entry 1 sense 1) or petty official
government minions
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The Origins of Minion
Minion comes from Middle French and is related to filet mignon. The two terms are connected by mignon, meaning "darling." The earliest uses of minion refer to someone who is a particular favorite of a sovereign or other important personage. Over time, however, the word developed a more derogatory sense referring to a person who is servile and unimportant.
Examples of minion in a Sentence
one of the boss's minions
most of the top appointments went to the new governor's personal minions and political cronies
Recent Examples on the Web
Negan banished him and seized control of the Dama’s minions.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 8 June 2025
Eve’s drive for revenge also is a problem for the Ruska Roma, as The Director long has enjoyed an agreement with The Chancellor that neither’s minions will interfere with the other’s.
—Mark Meszoros, Boston Herald, 6 June 2025
Didn’t hear of any sightings of President Trump or his minions in Springfield last week, twisting arms to vote for the bloated state budget.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
Overcoming the first son, the group continues their journey only to face down one after another, each with his own gimmick: The pirate son with his sea-creature half-men minions, for instance; a band of hunters with their own, even deadlier werewolf.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for minion
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Charlie Mason, TVLine, 8 June 2025
Eve’s drive for revenge also is a problem for the Ruska Roma, as The Director long has enjoyed an agreement with The Chancellor that neither’s minions will interfere with the other’s.
—Mark Meszoros, Boston Herald, 6 June 2025
Didn’t hear of any sightings of President Trump or his minions in Springfield last week, twisting arms to vote for the bloated state budget.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
Overcoming the first son, the group continues their journey only to face down one after another, each with his own gimmick: The pirate son with his sea-creature half-men minions, for instance; a band of hunters with their own, even deadlier werewolf.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for minion
Cite this Entry
“Minion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minion. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
minion
noun
min·ion
ˈmin-yən 
1
: a person who obediently serves or works for a usually powerful person or organization
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