# minion

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɪnjən/ · frequency rank #27,217

## Definitions
1. A loyal servant of another, usually a more powerful being.
2. A sycophantic follower.
3. The size of type between nonpareil and brevier, standardized as 7-point.
4. A loved one; one highly esteemed and favoured.
5. An ancient form of ordnance with a calibre of about three inches.
6. Obsolete form of minium.

## Etymology
1490, from Middle French mignon (“lover, royal favourite, darling”), from Old French mignon (“dainty, pleasing, gentle, kind”), from Frankish *minnju (“love, friendship, affection, memory”), from Proto-Germanic *minþijō, *mindijō (“affectionate thought, care”), from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think”). Doublet of mignon.

## Easily confused with
- **mino** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minion-vs-mino)
- **minor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minion-vs-minor)
- **Minot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minion-vs-minot)
- **motion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minion-vs-motion)
- **minnow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minion-vs-minnow)
- **mission** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minion-vs-mission)
- **minivan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/minion-vs-minivan)
- **mini** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mini-vs-minion)
- **Menon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/menon-vs-minion)
- **mining** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mining-vs-minion)
- **Milton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/milton-vs-minion)
- **Marion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marion-vs-minion)
- **Manson** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/manson-vs-minion)
- **micron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/micron-vs-minion)
- **mignon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mignon-vs-minion)
- **million** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/million-vs-minion)
- **mention** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mention-vs-minion)
- **mansion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mansion-vs-minion)

## Common misspellings (8)
`imnion`, `miinon`, `minino`, `minionn`, `minnion`, `minoin`, `mminion`, `mniion`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/minion