mince

American  

[mins] / mɪns /

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.

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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.

idioms

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

   He was angry and didn't mince words.

mince British  

/ 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

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noun

1. minced meat

2. informal nonsensical rubbish

Other Word Forms

• mincer noun
• unminced adjective

Etymology

Origin of mince

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

Example Sentences

When approached for comment on SoFi’s response, Muddy Waters didn’t mince words.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Relief pitcher Blake Treinen, one of the longest-tenured players on the Dodgers heading into his seventh season with the team, did not mince words when asked about how outsiders view the organization.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Appointed by George W. Bush, Judge Leon is no activist liberal, but he doesn’t mince words when he sees an abuse of the law.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Let's not mince our words, we are not known for following protocol, but it is different when it comes to this kind of thing.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025

I cut and chop and mince and dice and mix most of the morning, then I clean and sort stuff in the back.

From "Girls Like Us" by Gail Giles

Related Words

• crumble
• grind