noun
Uncommon
minion
MIHN-yuhn
Minion (noun) means a follower or underling who carries out orders, often unquestioningly, for someone more powerful. Example: “The villain sent his minions to retrieve the stolen jewel.”
noun
1
A follower or underling who carries out orders, often unquestioningly, for someone more powerful.
"The villain sent his minions to retrieve the stolen jewel."
"She treats her assistants like minions rather than colleagues."
How to use minion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA loyal but low-ranking follower who does someone else's bidding.
Common mistake
Historically it meant a beloved favorite, quite different from today's slightly negative sense of a servile underling.
Common pairings
loyal minions
send in the minions
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like minion.
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
- Comparative
- more minion
- Superlative
- most minion
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The villain sent his _____ to retrieve the stolen jewel.
Etymology
From Middle French mignon, "darling" or "favorite," originally describing a royal favorite before it took on its modern, often dismissive sense of a lowly follower.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for minion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for minion →
Frequently asked questions
What does “minion” mean?
The word “minion” means a follower or underling who carries out orders, often unquestioningly, for someone more powerful. In plain terms, a loyal but low-ranking follower who does someone else's bidding.
How do you pronounce “minion”?
“Minion” is pronounced MIHN-yuhn (/ˈmɪnjən/ in IPA).
How do you use “minion” in a sentence?
Here is “minion” used in a sentence: “The villain sent his minions to retrieve the stolen jewel.”
What part of speech is “minion”?
“Minion” is a noun.
Where does the word “minion” come from?
The word “minion” comes from Middle French. From Middle French mignon, "darling" or "favorite," originally describing a royal favorite before it took on its modern, often dismissive sense of a lowly follower.
Is “minion” a common word?
“Minion” is an uncommon word in modern English.
