mince

[mins]

verb (used with object)

minced, mincing 

1. to cut or chop into very small pieces.

2. to soften, moderate, or weaken (one's words), especially for the sake of decorum or courtesy.

3. to perform or utter with affected elegance.

4. to subdivide minutely, as land or a topic for study.

verb (used without object)

minced, mincing 

1. to walk or move with short, affectedly dainty steps.

2. Archaic.,  to act or speak with affected elegance.

noun

1. something cut up very small; mincemeat.

mince

/ mɪns /

verb

1. (tr) to chop, grind, or cut into very small pieces

2. (tr) to soften or moderate, esp for the sake of convention or politeness

   I didn't mince my words

3. (intr) to walk or speak in an affected dainty manner

noun

1. minced meat

2. informal,  nonsensical rubbish

Other Word Forms

• mincer noun
• unminced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mince¹

1350–1400; Middle English mincen < Middle French minc ( i ) er < Vulgar Latin *minūtiāre to mince; minute ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of mince¹

C14: from Old French mincier, from Vulgar Latin minūtiāre (unattested), from Late Latin minūtia smallness; see _minutiae

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. not mince words / matters, to speak directly and frankly; be blunt or outspoken.

   He was angry and didn't mince words.

Example Sentences

After an inconsistent start to the season for USC’s secondary, the defensive coordinator stood in front of a cadre of cameras and didn’t mince words.

From Los Angeles Times

Both faculty and students are mincing their words in class and approaching their discussions with caution for fear of being reported, said Wright State University junior Rochelle Woodson.

From Salon

This time however the US president did not mince his words, suggesting Starmer should potentially involve the military, and warning that illegal migration "destroys countries from within".

From BBC

Vanessa Valdez, an attorney and resident, didn’t mince her words.

From Los Angeles Times

The writer Morrow Mayo seldom minced words, especially when his subject was the gaudy, tawdry city where he made his home in the 1920s and 1930s.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crumble 
• grind