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

Rinse well and dry with a lint-free microfiber cloth. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2025

Sewing kits and lint rollers are among the most universally available yet rarely requested items. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 10 Nov. 2025

But my hands were typically in my pockets wrestling with lint. —Davon Loeb, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025

Dry methods included running a lint roller or brush over the upholstery to remove some loose hairs. —Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

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

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