filet mignon

[ fi-leymin-yon, min-yon; French fee-le mee-nyawn ]

/ fɪˈleɪ mɪnˈyɒn, ˈmɪn yɒn; French fi lɛ miˈnyɔ̃ /

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noun, plural fi·lets mi·gnons

[fi-leymin-yonz, min-yonz; French fee-le mee-nyawn]. /fɪˈleɪ mɪnˈyɒnz, ˈmɪn yɒnz; French fi lɛ miˈnyɔ̃/.

a small, tender round of steak cut from the thick end of a beef tenderloin.

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THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of filet mignon

1905–10; <French: dainty fillet

Words nearby filet mignon

Filene, file server, file sharing, filet, filet lace, filet mignon, file transfer protocol, filial, filial piety, filiate, filiation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use filet mignon in a sentence

The menu was a combination of fresh fish, lobster, to filet mignon, all interestingly prepared.
Blogging my first overseas vacation since COVID|Peter Rosenstein|October 19, 2021|Washington Blade
That is the Paris who hosts Cooking, gliding through the pristine kitchen in sparkly cocktail dresses, attaching Chanel logos to filet mignon with toothpicks and professing not to know the words tong or whisk.
The Surprisingly Complicated Pleasures of Cooking With Paris|Judy Berman|August 4, 2021|Time
The best tablet for kids is like dinner at a restaurant—don’t order the filet mignon if all they’ll eat is the bread.
Best tablet for kids: Ignite creativity and learning at every age|Billy Cadden|July 26, 2021|Popular-Science
Del Frisco’s Grill in Hoboken, New Jersey, is offering a to-go package of filet mignon, steamed lobster tail and truffle mac and cheese.
New Year’s Eve will be a dud for restaurants|Karen Yuan|December 31, 2020|Fortune

After all, if the insurer is paying all your grocery claims, why not load up on filet mignon instead of ground turkey?
Health and Human Services Secretary Doesn't Understand What Insurance Is|Megan McArdle|March 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Filet Mignon and Shrimp Fondue by Lou Seibert Pappas This is a classic Christmas Eve dinner fondue.
The Perfect Fondue|Cookstr.com|March 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Where else can you see people in half shirts taking down a succulent filet mignon?
Gal With a Suitcase|Jolie Hunt|January 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Then he called for a filet mignon and half-a-pint of vin rouge—he was always a reckless spendthrift sort of boy, you know.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 156, Feb. 19, 1919|Various
Una had waited till Mr. Sidney had disposed of his soup and filet mignon.
The Job|Sinclair Lewis
"Admirable advice," said Guloseton, toying with a filet mignon de poulet.
Pelham, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton
But if you could have seen me cutting up the Goddess's filet mignon!
The Lightning Conductor|C. N. Williamson
Her heart sank as lead, and a tear fell upon her filet mignon.
The Voice of the City|O. Henry

British Dictionary definitions for filet mignon

filet mignon

/ (ˈfɪleɪ ˈmiːnjɒn) /

noun

a small tender boneless cut of beef from the inside of the loin

Word Origin for filet mignon

from French, literally: dainty fillet

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012