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
The castle is the heart of Eternia and houses a great power — one that must be protected from Skeletor and his minions.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
The evil force of Skeletor (Jared Leto), a bad bad man with no face, brings his minions in and sets off non-stop destruction.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 June 2026
Aniello, who directed both bookend episodes, replicates her own long, dynamic shot from the series premiere, which tracks Deborah from the closing joke of her zillionth Vegas set, through a backstage warren of minions and admirers, to her dressing room.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 May 2026
Your president and his minions spread war, chaos, lies and economic instability.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for minion
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Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
The evil force of Skeletor (Jared Leto), a bad bad man with no face, brings his minions in and sets off non-stop destruction.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 June 2026
Aniello, who directed both bookend episodes, replicates her own long, dynamic shot from the series premiere, which tracks Deborah from the closing joke of her zillionth Vegas set, through a backstage warren of minions and admirers, to her dressing room.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 May 2026
Your president and his minions spread war, chaos, lies and economic instability.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for minion
Cite this Entry
“Minion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minion. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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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