mensch

American  

[mench] / mɛntʃ /

noun

Informal.

menschen, plural mensches plural

1. a decent, upright, mature, and responsible person.

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Etymology

Origin of mensch

First recorded in 1910–15; from Yiddish mentsh “man, human being,” from Middle High German mensch ( German Mensch ), from Old High German mennisco, mannisco; see man, -ish ¹

Explanation

A mensch is a good person, someone you really like and admire. Your neighbor who offers you a ride to work every time he notices that you've missed your bus again is a mensch. If you have a trusted friend or a reliable co-worker you can always count on, an informal word that describes them both is mensch. You might vote for the political candidate who seems the most like a mensch, or name your very favorite teacher and add, "She's a real mensch." The word comes from Yiddish, in which it means "a person of integrity and honor," from the German Mensch, or "person."

Example Sentences

When our distant ancestors in Jewish central Europe coined the word "mensch," they had people like Joe Lieberman in mind.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2024

My Justin, who will always be the face of the Dodgers, was a mensch, a real human being, who along with his wife, Kourtney, did marvelously caring services for the entire Los Angeles community.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2022

“You’ve gotta say something,” Paul’s grandfather tells him in an earlier scene, urging him to stand up to bullies and be a mensch to those who need it.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2022

But now, 46 years after first being elected to the state assembly, Nadler is playing the mensch card.

From Washington Post • Jul. 19, 2022

This guy was really amazing; in addition to his tough mind, he was a real mensch.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole