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

Wipe the blade with a lint-free cloth after each pass to avoid dragging dirty water back across the glass. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026

For the cotton study, this includes tracking impacts from the farming stage to the point where lint leaves the cotton gin. —Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 30 Mar. 2026

Remove lint and defuzz your favorite garments with this easy-to-use fabric shaver. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026

Ralph quickly forgot about the treat, wandered off, and picked up a piece of lint off the floor. —Anderson Cooper, CBS News, 22 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