mink

American  

[mingk] / mɪŋk /

noun

plural

minks,

plural

mink

1. a semiaquatic weasellike animal of the genus Mustela, especially the North American M. vison.

2. the fur of this animal, brownish in the natural state and having lustrous outside hairs and a thick, soft undercoat.

3. a coat, stole, etc., made of this fur.

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mink British  

/ mɪŋk /

noun

1. any of several semiaquatic musteline mammals of the genus Mustela, of Europe, Asia, and North America, having slightly webbed feet

2. the highly valued fur of these animals, esp that of the American mink ( M. vison )

3. a garment made of this, esp a woman's coat or stole

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Etymology

Origin of mink

1425–75; late Middle English, of uncertain origin

Compare meaning

How does mink compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• mink vs. muskrat
• stoat vs. mink

Explanation

A mink is a small, furry animal that's similar to a stoat or a weasel. Minks are prized for their soft pelts, which are often made into fur coats. If you are on your way to an animal rights event, leave your mink coat in the closet. You can use the noun mink to talk about the wild animal itself, which is not only hunted for its fur but also raised on farms, or to describe the wildly expensive coat made from the skin of many minks. A mink is the sort of warm fur coat you'd most likely see on a wealthy city dweller. The origin of mink is Scandinavian, related to the Swedish word menk, literally "a stinking animal in Finland."

Example Sentences

Jacobs fished out the long mink her grandmother left her years ago and took it to a Manhattan furrier to give it a second act.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

In 2020, it ordered the culling of all roughly 17 million farm-raised mink in Denmark to stop the spread of a coronavirus mutation, a directive it later admitted had no legal grounds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

It has led to the deaths of more than 400 million poultry worldwide and has infected dairy cows, mink, foxes, bears, otters, and many other mammals and wild birds.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

University of Nevada aviation historian and former airline pilot Dan Bubb said although civility is important — and violent incidents are unforgivable — manners and mink coats won’t fix the problem.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

There were no raccoons or skunks about in the snow, but the mice, the weasels, the mink, the foxes, the shrews, the cottontail rabbits were all busier than Coney Island in July.

From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

Related Words

• cloak
• frock
• jacket
• overcoat
• raincoat
• suit
• tuxedo
• windbreaker
• wrap