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

• 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

That could be caused by a buildup of dust, dirt and lint on the filter. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025

These, usually more petite dryer balls, are not meant to speed up the drying process but rather keep items lint-free by trapping pet hair. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025

While this is cleaning, head to the dryer and remove all lint in the lint trap. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2025

Among the items: a tuner, tampons, lint rollers, assorted papers, snacks, and an extra swimsuit and pair of underwear. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 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