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minion

Etymology and origin of the English word minion

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈmɪnjən/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Middle French mignon (“darling, favourite”),[2][3][4][5][6] from Old French mignot “dainty, pretty”,[2][3][4][6] a word of uncertain origin,[4] perhaps Celtic (compare Old Irish mín “tender”)[3][4] or from Old High German minna “love”.[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A beloved person or lover (1500–20),[7][3] and the favourite of a prince or great person (1501).[7][3]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th and 17th centuries the word could be used without disparagement for a darling or favourite.[4][7] But from about 1500 a minion was also an intriguing favourite who owed everything to a patron,[4][7] and so a servile dependent.[3][4] The disparaging sense prevailed,[5][2] and the word now usually means a servile follower or underling.[2][5][6][1] In printing it names a 7-point type.[6][1]

Timeline

  • 1500–20 – a lover or favourite.[7][3]
  • 1501 – a favourite of a sovereign; a servile dependent.[7][3]
  • 1560 – a contemptuous term of address.[7]
  • 1566 – a specially favoured friend or child.[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A servile follower or underling, especially of a powerful person; a sycophant.
  2. A minor or subordinate official.
  3. (archaic) A favourite or darling.
  4. (printing) A size of type, 7 points.
  • mignon

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Minion.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/minion. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·