mince

1 of 3

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 3

noun (1)

1

: small chopped bits (as of food)

specifically : mincemeat

2

British : hamburger sense 1a

mincer

3 of 3

noun (2)

minc·​er

ˈmin(t)sə(r)

plural -s

: one that minces

a dozen golden-haired languishers and mincers

—Max Peacock

the bone is … ground in a mincer under sterile conditions

—Year Book of Orthopedics & Traumatic Surgery

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

Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham did not mince words about the team’s recent struggles. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026

Kelly doesn’t mince words about the odds. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 May 2026

Even Johnson wasn’t exactly mincing words that this process begins with Malhotra. —Thomas Drance, New York Times, 21 May 2026

Rod Stewart is not mincing words about the president, especially in the company of British royalty. —Chris Willman, Variety, 12 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

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 (1)

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