minion

American  

[min-yuhn] / ˈmɪn yən /

noun

1. a servile follower or subordinate of a person in power.

2. a favored or highly regarded person.

3. a minor official.

4. Printing. a 7-point type.

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adjective

1. dainty; elegant; trim; pretty.

minion British  

/ ˈmɪnjən /

noun

1. a favourite or dependant, esp a servile or fawning one

2. a servile agent

   the minister's minions

3. a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 7 point

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adjective

1. dainty, pretty, or elegant

Etymology

Origin of minion

1490–1500; < Middle French mignon, for Old French mignot dainty < ?

Explanation

Your minions, if you are lucky enough to have any, are those people who are devoted to you and entirely dependent on you. If you borrow money from a bully and don't pay it back, he might send one of his minions after you. A minion is nothing more than a yes-man, a nameless faceless servant. It is a negative term implying that your only importance is from the person who orders you around. Corporate presidents may have minions to do their dirty work such as firing employees who have made a mistake. If a celebrity comes to town, minions will come ahead of time to make sure that everything is to the celebrity's liking.

Example Sentences

“Because ‘helpful minion in a power suit’ was taken, so I evolved into goblin mode,” came the reply, according to another post.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

As was the lesson of “Saltburn,” never antagonize a minion.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

She was also a severe asthmatic, always followed by a "frightened minion carrying her asthma inhaler, as though it were a crown, or a sceptre of some sort".

From BBC • Sep. 4, 2025

The Donna Karan reps at her New Jersey warehouse were astonished that I was the one climbing ladders and unzipping garment bags, and not some minion.

From Washington Post • Feb. 14, 2023

An angel from heaven or a minion from hell?

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller