lint

1 of 2

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

linty

2 of 2

adjective

ˈlintē 

-er/-est

: like lint : full of or covered with lint

Synonyms of lint

Noun

• fur
• pile

Examples of lint in a Sentence

Noun

I always have lint in my pocket.

The clothes dryer was clogged with lint.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The website Pocket-lint earlier reported on the Fire TV increases. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

The cloths in this 24-pack are lint-free, soft, and non-abrasive. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2026

Many of us know how to clean a dryer lint trap, but many washing machines have filters of their own, too. — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 17 Aug. 2026

According to Stein, every load leaves behind detergent residue, fabric softener, lint, and minerals from your water, and all of that builds up over time. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English

First Known Use

Noun

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