mint

¹ American  

[mint] / mɪnt /

noun

1. any aromatic herb of the genus Mentha, having opposite leaves and small, whorled flowers, as the spearmint and peppermint.

2. a soft or hard confection or candy flavored with spearmint or peppermint.

   after-dinner mints.

3.  mint green.  a light green color with a cool, bluish undertone.

   The cushion comes in mint or orange.

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adjective

1. made or flavored with mint.

   mint tea.

2. of the color mint.

mint ² American  

[mint] / mɪnt /

noun

1. a place where coins, paper currency, special medals, etc., are produced under government authority.

2. a place where something is produced or manufactured

3. a vast amount, especially of money.

   He made a mint in oil wells.

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adjective

1. Philately. (of a stamp) being in its original, unused condition.

2. unused or appearing to be newly made and never used.

   a book in mint condition.

verb (used with object)

1. to make (coins, money, etc.) by stamping metal.

2. to turn (metal) into coins.

   to mint gold into sovereigns.

3. to make or fabricate; invent.

   to mint words.

mint ³ American  

[mint] / mɪnt /

noun

1. intent; purpose.

2. an attempt; try; effort.

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verb (used with object)

1. to try (something); attempt.

2. to take aim at (something) with a gun.

3. to hit or strike at (someone or something).

verb (used without object)

1. to try; attempt.

2. to take aim.

mint ¹ British  

/ mɪnt /

noun

1. a place where money is coined by governmental authority

2. a very large amount of money

   he made a mint in business

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adjective

1. (of coins, postage stamps, etc) in perfect condition as issued

2. informal excellent; impressive

3. in perfect condition; as if new

verb

1. to make (coins) by stamping metal

2. (tr) to invent (esp phrases or words)

mint ² British  

/ mɪnt /

noun

1. any N temperate plant of the genus Mentha , having aromatic leaves and spikes of small typically mauve flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates). The leaves of some species are used for seasoning and flavouring See also peppermint spearmint horsemint water mint

2. another name for dittany

3. a sweet flavoured with mint

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Other Word Forms

• minter
  noun
• minty
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of mint¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English minte (cognate with Old High German minza ), from Latin ment(h)a, from the same source as Greek mínthē

Origin of mint²

First recorded before 900; Middle English mint(e), Old English mynet “coin, coinage, money,” from Latin monēta “coin, mint,” after the temple of Juno Monēta, where Roman money was coined

Origin of mint³

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb minten, munte(n) “to intend, plan, think of,” Old English myntan, gemyntan “to mean, intend”; akin to mind; noun derivative of the verb

Explanation

Mint is a green herb with a bright, cool taste and smell. The best part about brushing your teeth is the clean flavor of mint in your mouth afterward. Mint plants smell great, and you can even chew the leaves as a natural breath freshener. The sweet, clean flavor is common in chewing gum, dental floss, and candy (in fact, a mint-flavored candy is called a mint). A completely different sort of mint is a place where money is made, or minted. Informally, an enormous amount of money is also a mint: "He inherited a mint and bought a Rolls Royce."

Example Sentences

Think Mint Mobile or Cricket Wireless, companies that rent cell towers and wireless spectrum at wholesale prices.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

Mint, said he’d caution against drawing any long-term trend from central-bank sales because each one has different reasons to sell.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

The coin does not have a monetary value and its sale price has not been disclosed, but similar commemorative coins sold by the US Mint can cost over $1,000.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

Mint to make it as large as possible.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

The older man with the yellowed mustache, General, leaned in to whisper to the small man with the bald head they called Mint.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline