noun
mincemeat
MIHNS-meet
Mincemeat (noun) means a sweet mixture of chopped dried fruit, spices, and suet, traditionally used to fill mince pies. Example: “She stirred cinnamon and brandy into the mincemeat for the Christmas pies.”
noun
1
A sweet mixture of chopped dried fruit, spices, and suet, traditionally used to fill mince pies.
"And not to rub salt in wounds, when it comes to making mincemeat of the competition, American Joey Chestnut is still top banana."
— Michael Pearson, 6 things to know about hot dog king Joey Chestnut (2015)
"She stirred cinnamon and brandy into the mincemeat for the Christmas pies."
2
Informally, something or someone completely destroyed or defeated (as in "make mincemeat of").
"The champion made mincemeat of his opponent in the first round."
How to use mincemeat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe spiced fruit filling used in mince pies at Christmas, or, informally, a way of saying someone was thoroughly beaten.
Common mistake
Despite the name, modern mincemeat rarely contains any actual meat.
Common pairings
make mincemeat of
mince pies with mincemeat
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Word forms
- Plural
- mincemeats
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She stirred cinnamon and brandy into the _____ for the Christmas pies.
Etymology
Originally "minced meat"; over time the fruit-and-spice filling replaced the meat, but the name stuck.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for mincemeat
See all rhymes for mincemeat →Frequently asked questions
What does “mincemeat” mean?
The word “mincemeat” means a sweet mixture of chopped dried fruit, spices, and suet, traditionally used to fill mince pies. In plain terms, the spiced fruit filling used in mince pies at Christmas, or, informally, a way of saying someone was thoroughly beaten.
How do you pronounce “mincemeat”?
“Mincemeat” is pronounced MIHNS-meet (/ˈmɪnsˌmit/ in IPA).
How do you use “mincemeat” in a sentence?
Here is “mincemeat” used in a sentence: “She stirred cinnamon and brandy into the mincemeat for the Christmas pies.”
What part of speech is “mincemeat”?
“Mincemeat” is a noun.
How many meanings does “mincemeat” have?
“Mincemeat” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sweet mixture of chopped dried fruit, spices, and suet, traditionally used to fill mince pies.
