mum
1 Americanadjective
interjection
idioms
noun
noun
noun
noun
adjective
noun
noun
verb
noun
Usage
What does mum mean? Mum is an adjective that means keeping quiet. It can also be used by itself to mean Be quiet!This sense of mum is especially used in the expressions keep mum and mum’s the word. In the U. K. and other places, mum is used as a word for mom or madam. It’s also commonly used as a short way of saying chrysanthemum, a type of flower. Example: Mum’s keeping mum—I can’t get a word out of her!
Etymology
Origin of mum1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English momme; imitative
Origin of mum2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mommen, verb use of mum 1; compare Middle Dutch mommen ”to act the mummer's part”
Origin of mum3
First recorded in 1890–95; shortened form
Origin of mum4
First recorded in 1815–25; nursery word; see mom
Origin of mum5
First recorded in 1630–40; from German Mumme, said to have been named after Christian Mumme, the brewer who made it
Origin of mum6
Variant of ma'am
Explanation
Someone who's mum has nothing to say, especially on a particular subject. If you agree to keep someone's secret, you could tell them, "Mum's the word!" A shy child who's new at school might stay mum all day, and even your most talkative friend might remain mum on controversial topics like religion and politics. In many parts of the world, mum is also a nickname for your mother — and it's also a nickname for the flower called a chrysanthemum. The "quiet" meaning of mum comes from Old English, inspired by the "mmm" sound you make when your lips are closed.
Vocabulary lists containing mum
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"If a mum is acting out of character... and the unusual behaviour isn't right, it's really important that's flagged and is seen as a medical emergency," she said.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Some of my neighbours "made a killing" from the policy, in the words of my mum.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
When my mum became pregnant with me, it was safe to assume that a home would soon become available - and within about a year, one did.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
While the museum has largely kept mum, Sytner, an 82-year-old Liverpool native based in Italy, has gone to great lengths to persuade collectors and experts of his car’s singular authenticity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
For Squelch, who came out of his mum too soon.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Along with the buzz on Twitter, Instagram mummed with the news of Herbert’s new deal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2023
The local theatre and performance group have been committed to carrying the rural custom of "mumming" or "rhyming" into the 21st century, and in doing so caught the attention of McQueen's creative director, Seán McGirr.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2025
From the ancient Irish practice of mumming to walking the red carpet, the Armagh Rhymers were central to a meeting of myth and couture for McQueen's Paris Fashion Week show.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2025
As Farmer's Almanac notes, there was also a custom to literally put on a little show at a strangers doorstep, which was called "mumming."
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2022
His accent is good, his mumming of characteristic meticulousness.
From Time Magazine Archive
And a mumming we will go, will go, And a mumming we will go, With a bright cockade in all our hats, we'll go with a gallant show.
From The Peace Egg and Other tales by Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
