Meaning & use
minion
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Meanings
nouncountabledisapproving
A follower or helper who does whatever a powerful person orders, often without thinking.
Grammar: Often in the plural: the villain and his minions.
Patterns
- a minion of someone
The villain sent his minions to find the key.
She refused to be treated like a minion.
The mayor's minions rushed to carry out his orders.
nouncountableinformalhumorous
A low-ranking worker, used jokingly or with scorn.
Grammar: Informal; speakers often use it about themselves.
I'm just a minion in the accounting department.
The office minions did the filing.
He ordered a minion to fetch the coffee.
Word forms
| plural | minions |
|---|
Common combinations
- loyal minion
- The loyal minion never questioned his boss.
- evil minion
- The evil minion laughed at the plan.
- minions of the king
- The minions of the king collected the taxes.
- a mere minion
- I was a mere minion at the firm.
- send a minion
- The CEO sent a minion to the meeting.
Synonyms and how they differ
- underling
- Underling is similar but is more plainly about rank and less about slavish obedience.
- henchman
- Henchman suggests someone who does violent or criminal tasks for a boss.
- lackey
- Lackey is stronger and mocks someone for being servile.
- assistant
- Assistant is neutral and respectful, while minion adds scorn.
Opposites
Commonly confused: minion or minnow?
minion vs minnow
A minnow is a tiny fish, and it is also used for an unimportant person, but it is a different word from minion.
Practice
The tyrant sent his ____ to collect the money, and they obeyed without question.
Choose one answer.
Minions obey a powerful person without question. Peers are equals, and rivals and critics oppose someone.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “minion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.