adj
mignon
MIHN-yon
Mignon (adj) means Small, delicate, and attractive. Example: “The pastry chef arranged rows of mignon little cakes.”
adj
1
Small, delicate, and attractive.
"Exactly what my grandfather says," Dorothy retorted, fun flashing in that mignon face."
— Marcin Barner, Britz of Headquarters (1911)
"The pastry chef arranged rows of mignon little cakes."
noun
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishMost familiar today through "filet mignon", a small, prized cut of beef tenderloin.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
filet mignon
mignon size
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like mignon.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- mignons
- Comparative
- more mignon
- Superlative
- most mignon
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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".
Rhymes for mignon
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.
