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

—used in negative statements

I won't mince any words: the plan won't work.

… 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 of mince

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

Holland had cooked the vegetarian and chicken fillings for the dumplings, minced almost to a paste, three nights earlier, and purchased enough dumpling wrapper packs from the grocery store to make 500 in total. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026

The most dramatic angle of the edge is set just a few inches back from the tip, allowing for a gentle rock when mincing herbs. —Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Feb. 2026

Morgan hasn’t minced words when discussing his desire to add a younger QB behind Young. —Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026

Standing with lawmakers and community leaders, Schumer did not mince words. —Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026

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