1
: a servile dependent, follower, or underling
He's one of the boss's minions.
2
: one highly favored : idol
his great charity to the poor renders him the minion of the people—
Jonas Hanway
Jonas Hanway3
: a subordinate (see subordinate entry 1 sense 1) or petty official
government minions
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The Origins of Minion
Minion comes from Middle French and is related to filet mignon. The two terms are connected by mignon, meaning "darling." The earliest uses of minion refer to someone who is a particular favorite of a sovereign or other important personage. Over time, however, the word developed a more derogatory sense referring to a person who is servile and unimportant.
Examples of minion in a Sentence
one of the boss's minions
most of the top appointments went to the new governor's personal minions and political cronies
Recent Examples on the Web
Oswald’s realm and his penguins and his minions and his passion.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 3 June 2025
His minions burst into federal office buildings, humiliating staffers.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
Executive producer Lisa Vanderpump teaches her minions how to make pristine television, and that is exactly what Marciano is doing.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 21 May 2025
All the strong people were in the one fire pit and all us little minions were in the other.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 17 Apr. 2025
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Jack Smart, People.com, 3 June 2025
His minions burst into federal office buildings, humiliating staffers.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
Executive producer Lisa Vanderpump teaches her minions how to make pristine television, and that is exactly what Marciano is doing.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 21 May 2025
All the strong people were in the one fire pit and all us little minions were in the other.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for minion
Cite this Entry
“Minion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minion. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
minion
noun
min·ion
ˈmin-yən 
1
: a person who obediently serves or works for a usually powerful person or organization
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