mincemeat

noun

mince·​meat ˈmin(t)s-ˌmēt 

1

: minced meat

2

: a finely chopped mixture (as of raisins, apples, and spices) sometimes with meat that is often used as pie filling

3

: a state of destruction or annihilation

—used in the phrase make mincemeat of

Synonyms

• destruction
• devastation
• havoc
• demolition
• extinction
• loss

Examples of mincemeat in a Sentence

the artillery quickly made mincemeat of the enemy's fortifications

Recent Examples on the Web

After making mincemeat of several San Francisco relievers on Friday night, however, the Red Sox couldn’t manage a baserunner against Randy Rodríguez and Tyler Rogers, who pitched the seventh and eighth, respectively. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 June 2025

In this week’s segment, Post & Beam chef John Cleveland demonstrated his version of a family recipe for tender, delicate, lightly sweet mincemeat cookies. —Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2024

Destined to be reduced to mincemeat one way or another, the neo-Mickey's limp, naked body slowly slides out from the machine. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025

Skillets of buttery cornbread, catfish nuggets with house remoulade, smoked jerk chicken wings, bowls of gumbo bobbing with crab legs, triangles of short rib sandwiches and platters stacked with powdered mincemeat cookies arrived on the table one after one. —Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mincemeat

• make mincemeat (out) of

Rhymes for mincemeat

• bittersweet
• celestite
• incomplete
• indiscreet
• marguerite
• obsolete
• overeat
• overheat
• parakeet
• stillingfleet
• superheat
• amit

Kids Definition

mincemeat

noun

mince·​meat ˈmin(t)-ˌsmēt 

1

: minced meat

2

: a finely chopped mixture (as of raisins, apples, and spices) with or without meat