lint

noun

ˈlint 

1

a

: a soft fleecy material made from linen usually by scraping

b

: fuzz consisting especially of fine ravelings and short fibers of yarn and fabric

2

: a fibrous coat of thick convoluted hairs borne by cotton seeds that yields the cotton staple

lintless

ˈlint-ləs 

adjective

linty

ˈlin-tē 

adjective

Synonyms of lint

• fur
• pile

Examples of lint in a Sentence

I always have lint in my pocket.

The clothes dryer was clogged with lint.

Recent Examples on the Web

Only use dryer lint from natural fabrics and skip anything with synthetics or dryer sheet residue. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026

Unlike a sticky lint roller that relies on disposable tape, this roller is reusable. —Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2026

Along with CottonConnect’s Reel Regenerative Code, the organization also has tracked 152, 174 metric tons of lint cotton fibers through its digital traceability tool, TraceBale. —Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 10 Mar. 2026

For dryer loads, clean the lint trap after each load and ensure the vent duct is clear for proper airflow. —Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing lint

• lint roller

Rhymes for lint

• clint
• dint
• glint
• hint
• mint
• print
• quint
• quinte
• splint
• sprint
• squint
• stint

Kids Definition

lint

noun

ˈlint 

1

: loose fibers or bits of thread

2

: cotton entry 1 sense 1a

lintless

-ləs 

adjective

linty

-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

lint

noun

ˈlint 

1

: a soft fleecy material used for poultices and dressings for wounds and made from linen usually by scraping

2

British : sterile cotton cloth used for dressings