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mint

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: any of a family (Lamiaceae synonym Labiatae, the mint family) of aromatic plants with a square stem and a 4-lobed ovary which produces four one-seeded nutlets in fruit
especially : any of a genus (Mentha) of mints that have white, purple, or pink flowers arranged in a whorl with a nearly regular corolla and four equal stamens and that include some used in flavoring and cookery
2
: a piece of candy flavored with mint
minty adjective

mint

2 of 4

noun (2)

1
: a place where coins, medals, or tokens are made
2
: a place where something is manufactured
3
: a vast sum or amount
worth a mint

mint

3 of 4

verb

minted; minting; mints

transitive verb

1
: to make (coins or money) out of metal : coin
2
3
: to cause to attain an indicated status
newly minted doctors
minter noun

mint

4 of 4

adjective

: unmarred as if fresh from a mint
in mint condition

Examples of mint in a Sentence

Noun (2) she made a mint when the real estate market was hot Verb coins that were minted before 1965 We mint coins out of copper. Adjective a mint baseball card that should be worth a lot to a collector
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Lady Gaga was spotted out and about in Paris wearing a mint green suit and black bra while sporting a new, darker hair color. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025 Her concoctions begin with seasonal and local fruits, herbs, and trees like persimmons, mint, and—get ready—shagbark hickory, and the natural flavors mean no more cloyingly sweet cocktails. Rebecca Deurlein, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025
Verb
True partnership would require sprawling educational campuses, like those in China, minting engineers and technicians by the thousands every year, along with stronger Chinese commitments to local employment, content, and R&D so that Africa can climb the value chain. Andy Browne, semafor.com, 20 Nov. 2025 Probably not, according to coin expert Charmy Harker, who noted that our northern neighbor stopped minting pennies back in 2012 and most Canadians barely noticed. Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mint

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English minte, from Old English, from Latin mentha, menta; akin to Greek minthē mint

Noun (2)

Middle English mynt coin, money, from Old English mynet, from Latin moneta mint, coin, from Moneta, epithet of Juno; from the fact that the Romans coined money in the temple of Juno Moneta

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mint was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mint. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

mint

1 of 3 noun
1
: any of a family of herbs and shrubs (as basil or catnip) with square stems and opposite leaves
especially : one (as peppermint or spearmint) that is fragrant and is the source of a flavoring oil
2
: a mint-flavored piece of candy

mint

2 of 3 noun
1
: a place where coins, medals, and tokens are made
2
: a great amount
worth a mint

mint

3 of 3 verb
: to make (as coins) out of metal
minter noun
Etymology

Noun

Old English minte "the herb mint," from Latin mentha, menta "mint"

Noun

Middle English mynt "coin, money," from Old English mynet (same meaning), from Latin moneta "coin, place where coins are made," from Moneta "a special name for the goddess Juno"; so called because the ancient Romans made coins at the temple of Juno Moneta — related to money see Word History at money

Medical Definition

mint

noun
: any of a family (Lamiaceae, the mint family) of aromatic plants with a square stem and a four-lobed ovary which produces four one-seeded nutlets in fruit
especially : any of the genus Mentha

More from Merriam-Webster on mint

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