adj

mignon

MIHN-yon

Mignon (adj) means Small, delicate, and attractive. Example: “The pastry chef arranged rows of mignon little cakes.”

adj

Small, delicate, and attractive.

"The pastry chef arranged rows of mignon little cakes."

noun

A small, tender cut of meat, especially in the phrase "filet mignon".

"He ordered the filet mignon, cooked medium rare."

How to use mignon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost familiar today through "filet mignon", a small, prized cut of beef tenderloin.

Easily confused with

minion →

Common pairings

filet mignon mignon size

Word forms

more mignon comparative, mignons plural, Mignons plural, most mignon superlative

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The pastry chef arranged rows of _____ little cakes.

Etymology

From French mignon ("darling, dainty"), ultimately from a Frankish word for love or affection. A doublet of "minion".

Origin: French

Rhymes for mignon

Avignon

See all rhymes for mignon →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mignon” mean?

The word “mignon” means small, delicate, and attractive. In plain terms, most familiar today through "filet mignon", a small, prized cut of beef tenderloin.

How do you pronounce “mignon”?

“Mignon” is pronounced MIHN-yon (/mɪnˈjɑn/ in IPA).

How do you use “mignon” in a sentence?

Here is “mignon” used in a sentence: “The pastry chef arranged rows of mignon little cakes.”

What part of speech is “mignon”?

Depending on how it is used, “mignon” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “mignon” come from?

The word “mignon” comes from French. From French mignon ("darling, dainty"), ultimately from a Frankish word for love or affection. A doublet of "minion".

How many meanings does “mignon” have?

“Mignon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: small, delicate, and attractive.