minion

noun

min·​ion ˈmin-yən 

1

: a servile dependent, follower, or underling

He's one of the boss's minions.

2

: one highly favored : idol

his great charity to the poor renders him the minion of the people

—Jonas Hanway

3

: a subordinate (see subordinate entry 1 sense 1) or petty official

government minions

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The Origins of Minion

Minion comes from Middle French and is related to filet mignon. The two terms are connected by mignon, meaning "darling." The earliest uses of minion refer to someone who is a particular favorite of a sovereign or other important personage. Over time, however, the word developed a more derogatory sense referring to a person who is servile and unimportant.

Synonyms

• darling
• fave
• favorite
• pet
• preference
• speed

Examples of minion in a Sentence

one of the boss's minions

most of the top appointments went to the new governor's personal minions and political cronies

Recent Examples on the Web

Expect lots of fantasy action violence, including fighting (pushing, shoving, kicking) in mech suits and/or with helmeted (thus, faceless) minions. —Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2023

In another attraction called Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, guests can join Gru, his daughters and the minions in Gru’s villain laboratory. —Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 20 July 2023

Last summer, Siwa dipped into her makeup palettes to transform into – a minion! —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 1 June 2023

Through minion hormones, GnRH controls production of testosterone, estrogen and sperm, as well as ovulation. —Jessica P. Hekman, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015

Thus, the two kids from Brooklyn have to team up with the Autobots to prevent Unicron and his minions the Terrorcons — including a particularly nasty one known as Scourge (Peter Dinklage) — from feasting on Earth and destroying the planet. —Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2023

Further upgrades to Blight cause your minions to do 15% more damage to Blighted enemies and slow them. —Brittany Vincent, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2023

Sarastro’s Masonic minions gather around a conference table in generic gray suits, Tamino heads off in pursuit of virtue wearing a white shirt and black pants, and Pamina does a lot of entreating in a frumpy white dress. —Vulture, 23 May 2023

As this goes down, JJ and Kie stumble upon Pope and Cleo while going through town, but Singh's minions find them. —Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 27 Feb. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle French mignon darling

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

minion

noun

min·​ion ˈmin-yən 

1

: a person who obediently serves or works for a usually powerful person or organization

2

: favorite entry 1 sense 1