mince

1 of 2

verb

ˈmin(t)s 

minced; mincing

transitive verb

1

a

: to cut or chop into very small pieces

She minced the garlic.

b

: to subdivide minutely

especially : to damage by cutting up

The director minced up the play.

2

: to utter or pronounce with affectation

minced the word in the manner of the old lady

3

a

archaic : minimize

b

: to restrain (words) within the bounds of decorum

minced no words in stating his dislike

—J. T. Farrell

intransitive verb

: to walk with short steps in a prim affected manner

The comedian minced across the stage.

mincer noun

mince

2 of 2

noun

1

: small chopped bits (as of food)

specifically : mincemeat

2

British : hamburger sense 1a

Synonyms

Verb

• chop

Examples of mince in a Sentence

Verb

She minced the onions.

minced some garlic and added it to the stew

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The lousy ones coming at the end, after Parkinson’s had taken hold and Walter’s hands had first begun to shake and then his balance had faltered and finally he was reduced to taking little mincing baby steps like that character Tim Conway used to play on The Carol Burnett Show. —Literary Hub, 9 July 2025

Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel didn’t mince words when responding to the incident. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 8 July 2025

Megyn Kelly, known for not mincing words, eviscerated the guest list for the wedding during the latest episode of her eponymous SiriusXM show. —Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 30 June 2025

More Getty Images Speaking on his SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio show on Tuesday, Glover didn't mince words. —Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French mincer, from Vulgar Latin *minutiare, from Latin minutia smallness — more at minutia

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mince

• mince no words
• not mince (one's) words

Rhymes for mince

• prince
• quince
• rinse
• since
• wince
• convince
• evince

Kids Definition

mince

1 of 2 verb

ˈmin(t)s 

minced; mincing

1

: to cut into very small pieces

2

: to act, walk, or speak in an unnaturally dainty way

mincingly

ˈmin(t)-siŋ-lē

adverb

mince

2 of 2 noun

: small bits into which something is chopped

especially : mincemeat