minnow

American  

[min-oh] / ˈmɪn oʊ /

noun

minnows, plural minnow plural

1. a small, European cyprinoid fish, Phoxinus phoxinus.

2. any other fish of the family Cyprinidae, including the carps, goldfishes, and daces.

3. any of various unrelated, small fishes.

4. a person or thing that is comparatively small or insignificant.

   With just six electoral votes up for grabs, the Midwestern swing state of Iowa is a mere minnow compared to giants like Florida and Ohio.

5. Also called crypto minnow.  an investor who holds a small amount of cryptocurrency and is therefore unlikely to make transactions that have a significant effect on prices.

   In the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain, minnows still play a crucial role in decentralizing ownership and participation in the industry.

---

minnow British  

/ ˈmɪnəʊ /

noun

1. a small slender European freshwater cyprinid fish, Phoxinus phoxinus

2. any other small cyprinid

3. angling a spinning lure imitating a minnow

4. a small or insignificant person

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• minnow
  plural
• minnows
  plural

Etymology

Origin of minnow

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English minwe, Old English mynwe (unrecorded), feminine of myne; cognate with Old High German munewa, a kind of fish

Explanation

A minnow is a tiny freshwater fish. Minnows are commonly caught in nets and used as bait for catching larger fish. What we think of as a minnow could actually be any of a number of fish, since this term is the common name for a lot of species. While most people don't consider minnows to be food fish, they are part of the traditional diet of many indigenous North Americans and can be eaten whole, like sardines, if they're small enough. In Ireland, minnows are known as "pinkeens."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

minnow minnows

At times, he appears like a minnow trying to swallow a whale.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

That feat alone was remarkable for a player from Fiji, a footballing minnow that Krishna had left years earlier to play semi-professionally.

From Barron's ● Feb. 5, 2026

Kalshi is still a minnow in the sports-betting industry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2025

Whoever compiled the video did not even need to mention the victory by a Colombian minnow, Once Caldas, in the Copa Libertadores to declare that 2004 had been a year for the underdog.

From New York Times ● Mar. 15, 2024

“She is like a little fish, a minnow, that swims in a clear creek,” he said, “—defenseless, yet you cannot catch her.”

From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin

These are not economic minnows either; it’s the likes of Japan, India, China and Korea.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

The group stage would be a series of blowouts, the sharks would devour the minnows.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026

For the most part, it’s been extremely top-heavy—which was always to be expected as the expanded 48-team field pulled in more minnows.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

It may be telling that his only competitive appearances under Tuchel came in the two World Cup qualifiers against minnows Andorra.

From BBC ● May 21, 2026

He stooped to swish his hand in the water, making the minnows scurry away.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor