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

Deep cleaning a couch goes far beyond a quick pass with the lint roller. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026

Lightly dampen a clean, lint-free cloth. —Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026

Keep your pet's bed clean by vacuuming inside and out, then use a lint brush to pick up any remaining hair. —Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2026

Tore it apart before scraping it and sure enough, tucked into a corner, covered with lint, was an old gold ring. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 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