minnow

noun

min·​now ˈmi-(ˌ)nō 

plural minnows also minnow

1

a

: a small cyprinid, killifish, or topminnow

b

: any of various small fish that are less than a designated size and are not game fish

2

: a live or artificial minnow used as bait

Examples of minnow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Several of those associations might be termed minnows, reliant on money from afar or susceptible to the skewing effect of one of their sides progressing further than expected on the continent. —Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 May 2025

The breadth of the potential impact became clear in an odd feature of the tariff list: Mr. Trump reserved his steepest rates not for America’s more economically advanced trading partners, but for economic minnows across Africa and Asia. —Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2025

Other minnows in action The Calgary Flames also flew under the radar in free agency after being in the thick of the news cycle for much of the year. —Eric Duhatschek, The Athletic, 5 July 2024

The likes of River Plate and Boca Juniors have fallen, but the mighty minnows remain. —Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English menawe; akin to Old English myne minnow, Old High German munewa, a kind of fish

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

minnow

noun

min·​now ˈmin-ō 

plural minnows also minnow

: any of various small freshwater fishes (as a dace or shiner) related to the carps

also : any of various small fishes that resemble minnows