minnow

American  

[min-oh] / ˈmɪn oʊ /

noun

plural

minnows,

plural

minnow

1. a small, European cyprinoid fish, Phoxinus phoxinus.

2. any other fish of the family Cyprinidae, including the carps, goldfishes, and daces.

3. any of various unrelated, small fishes.

4. a person or thing that is comparatively small or insignificant.

   With just six electoral votes up for grabs, the Midwestern swing state of Iowa is a mere minnow compared to giants like Florida and Ohio.

5. Also called crypto minnow.  an investor who holds a small amount of cryptocurrency and is therefore unlikely to make transactions that have a significant effect on prices.

   In the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain, minnows still play a crucial role in decentralizing ownership and participation in the industry.

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minnow British  

/ ˈmɪnəʊ /

noun

1. a small slender European freshwater cyprinid fish, Phoxinus phoxinus

2. any other small cyprinid

3. angling a spinning lure imitating a minnow

4. a small or insignificant person

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Etymology

Origin of minnow

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English minwe, Old English mynwe (unrecorded), feminine of myne; cognate with Old High German munewa, a kind of fish

Explanation

A minnow is a tiny freshwater fish. Minnows are commonly caught in nets and used as bait for catching larger fish. What we think of as a minnow could actually be any of a number of fish, since this term is the common name for a lot of species. While most people don't consider minnows to be food fish, they are part of the traditional diet of many indigenous North Americans and can be eaten whole, like sardines, if they're small enough. In Ireland, minnows are known as "pinkeens."

Example Sentences

Still, Campari risks being challenged by rivals in the U.S., where it remains a minnow in terms of market share.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

That feat alone was remarkable for a player from Fiji, a footballing minnow that Krishna had left years earlier to play semi-professionally.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

Whoever compiled the video did not even need to mention the victory by a Colombian minnow, Once Caldas, in the Copa Libertadores to declare that 2004 had been a year for the underdog.

From New York Times • Mar. 15, 2024

At roughly 5% of all financial assets in 2022, non-bank lenders are a minnow in Australia compared to the International Monetary Fund's estimate of 50% globally.

From Reuters • Nov. 5, 2023

“She is like a little fish, a minnow, that swims in a clear creek,” he said, “—defenseless, yet you cannot catch her.”

From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin