minstrel

noun

min·​strel ˈmin(t)-strəl 

plural minstrels

1

: one of a class of medieval musical entertainers

especially : a singer of verses to the accompaniment of a harp

wandering minstrels

2

a

: musician

b

: poet

3

a

: a member of a type of performance troupe caricaturing Black performers that originated in the U.S. in the early 19th century

Note: The acts of minstrels, who typically performed in blackface, featured exaggerated and inaccurate representations of Black people in songs, dances, and comic dialogue. The popularity of minstrel shows in their heyday played a significant role in promoting negative racial stereotypes. Professional minstrel shows had fallen out of favor and effectively disappeared by the mid-20th century.

b

: a performance by a troupe of minstrels : a minstrel show

Synonyms

• poet
• bard

Examples of minstrel in a Sentence

Edna St. Vincent Millay was unofficially the minstrel of Maine, as her poetry celebrates its coast and countryside.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the early 1900s, Black performers often encountered dress code restrictions and had to acclimate their garments to fit the demands of their audiences, particularly in minstrel shows and vaudeville performances. —Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

One giant got distracted by a wandering minstrel One giant overslept and started late Clues: Brumm is not the fastest builder but didn’t oversleep. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Their audiences rejected elitist cultural norms and watched Shakespeare mixed in with minstrel songs and comedy acts on the same program. —Joanna Dee Das, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025

Robinson, an American tap dancer, actor, and singer, began his career in minstrel shows and moved to vaudeville, Broadway, the recording industry, films, radio, and television. —Marc Berman, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English menestral, menstral, mynstral, borrowed from Anglo-French menestral, menestrel "servant, attendant, official, workman, musical entertainer," borrowed from Medieval Latin ministeriālis "servant, functionary in a lord's household, official," going back to Late Latin, "imperial official," noun derivative of ministeriālis "serving, performing a duty" — more at ministerial

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

minstrel

noun

min·​strel ˈmin(t)-strəl 

1

: a medieval musical entertainer

especially : a singer of verses accompanied by music

2

a

: musician

b

: poet

3

a

: one of a group of performers giving a program of Black American melodies and jokes usually with faces blackened with makeup

b

: a performance by a group of minstrels