noun

mince

mihns

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Mince (noun) means Meat that has been finely chopped or ground. Example: “She browned the mince before adding the tomatoes and onions.”

noun

Meat that has been finely chopped or ground.

"She browned the mince before adding the tomatoes and onions."

verb

To chop food into very small pieces.

"Mince the garlic finely before adding it to the pan."

"The recipe calls for two cloves of garlic, minced."

To soften or hold back one's words so as not to offend (usually in "not mince words").

"He didn't mince his words when he criticised the plan."

To walk with small, affected, dainty steps.

"She minced across the room in her high heels."

How to use mince

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAs a noun, finely chopped meat (what Americans usually call "ground meat"); as a verb, to chop finely, or to speak in a careful, softened way, or to walk with small dainty steps.

UK vs US

British English uses "mince" for what American English usually calls "ground beef" or "ground meat".

Common pairings

minced beef not mince words mince garlic

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: minces
Third person singular: minces
Past tense: minced

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She browned the _____ before adding the tomatoes and onions.

Etymology

From Old French mincier ("to cut into small pieces"), related to Old English words meaning "to make smaller" — ultimately from the same root as "minus" and "minor".

Origin: Old French

Synonyms

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moderate soften

Related words

control season lead slow chair strange mode liberal

Rhymes for mince

since Vince prince quince province convince

See all rhymes for mince →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mince” mean?

The word “mince” means meat that has been finely chopped or ground. In plain terms, as a noun, finely chopped meat (what Americans usually call "ground meat"); as a verb, to chop finely, or to speak in a careful, softened way, or to walk with small dainty steps.

How do you pronounce “mince”?

“Mince” is pronounced mihns (/mɪns/ in IPA).

How do you use “mince” in a sentence?

Here is “mince” used in a sentence: “She browned the mince before adding the tomatoes and onions.”

What part of speech is “mince”?

Depending on how it is used, “mince” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “mince” come from?

The word “mince” comes from Old French. From Old French mincier ("to cut into small pieces"), related to Old English words meaning "to make smaller" — ultimately from the same root as "minus" and "minor".

How many meanings does “mince” have?

“Mince” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: meat that has been finely chopped or ground.

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