dint: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Literary
Quick answer
What does “dint” mean?
force or power.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
force or power; specifically force of effort or will.
A dent or hollow made by a blow; also used figuratively to mean "by means of" or "through" in the phrase "by dint of."
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Both primarily use the phrase 'by dint of.' The standalone noun is archaic in both.
Connotations
Formal, somewhat old-fashioned, and literary in both varieties.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both; most common in formal writing or historical/literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “dint” in a Sentence
by dint of [NP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dint” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Archaic) The stone dinted the armour upon impact.
American English
- (Archaic) The hail dinted the roof of the old barn.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May appear in formal reports: 'She achieved the target by dint of sheer perseverance.'
Academic
Occasional in formal humanities writing to describe methodological effort: 'By dint of careful archival research, the historian uncovered new evidence.'
Everyday
Very rare in casual speech; would sound overly formal.
Technical
Extremely rare outside of literary or historical analysis.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dint”
- Using 'by dint of' to mean simply 'because of' without the nuance of active effort or force.
- Using 'dint' as a standalone noun in modern contexts (archaic).
- Misspelling as 'dent' in the phrase 'by dint of.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is rare and primarily survives in the fixed, somewhat formal phrase 'by dint of.'
'Dint' is an archaic synonym for 'dent.' In modern English, 'dent' is the standard word for a hollow caused by a blow, while 'dint' is almost exclusively used figuratively in 'by dint of.'
It would sound very formal or old-fashioned. In informal contexts, synonyms like 'through,' 'by,' or 'because of' are more natural.
It is neutral, simply indicating the means (force, effort, will) by which something is achieved. The achievement itself can be positive or negative.
force or power.
Dint: in British English it is pronounced /dɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “by dint of (something)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DENT in a car – a 'dint' is an old word for that. To fix the dent, you need to apply force or effort – 'by dint of' hard work.
Conceptual Metaphor
EFFORT IS A FORCE THAT LEAVES A MARK (from the original 'dent' meaning).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern use of the word 'dint'?