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

Fund manager Jeremy Grantham and financial historian Edward Chancellor released an essay last week that didn’t mince words.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Director Judd Apatow, who said he has been quietly boycotting the ceremony for 10 years, didn't mince words when he took the stage to present an award.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

Mickey Rourke did not mince words when asked by TV host Piers Morgan about fellow actor Tom Cruise and the box-office numbers for ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2026

Round-faced Edouard, a fast-talker, did not mince his words in describing his years of "torment" within the ADF.

From Barron's • Dec. 26, 2025

For my next visit I saved my own helping of mince pie.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• crumble
• grind