plural minstrels
1
: a musical entertainer in the Middle Ages
a wandering minstrel
2
US
: a member of a group of entertainers who performed black American songs and jokes usually with blackened faces
a minstrel show
Note: Minstrel shows were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Cite this Entry
“Minstrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/minstrel. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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