mignonette: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2)Literary, formal, specialized (horticulture/botany), historical
Quick answer
What does “mignonette” mean?
A plant of the genus Reseda, especially Reseda odorata, cultivated for its fragrant greenish flowers, or its light greyish-green colour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A plant of the genus Reseda, especially Reseda odorata, cultivated for its fragrant greenish flowers, or its light greyish-green colour.
Refers to the colour reminiscent of the plant's foliage; historically used for a type of fine lace or a small, delicate thing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. Slight preference in UK for the botanical/horticultural context.
Connotations
Evokes a delicate, old-fashioned, or genteel quality.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both corpora.
Grammar
How to Use “mignonette” in a Sentence
cultivate [mignonette]the [mignonette] bloomed[colour] mignonetteVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mignonette” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She wore a dress of a subtle mignonette hue.
- The room was painted a restful mignonette green.
American English
- The fabric was a soft mignonette color.
- They chose a mignonette shade for the accent wall.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Specialized botanical texts.
Everyday
Extremely rare.
Technical
Botany, horticulture, historical textiles.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mignonette”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mignonette”
- Misspelling as 'mignionette' or 'minionette'.
- Confusing with the unrelated word 'minion'.
- Using in general contexts where 'pale green' or 'fragrant plant' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency word, primarily found in specialized botanical, historical, or literary contexts.
Yes, it can describe a light greyish-green colour, named after the plant's foliage, though this usage is rare.
Its most common meaning is the fragrant garden plant, Reseda odorata.
No, they are etymologically distinct. 'Mignonette' is a French diminutive of 'mignon' (dainty, cute), while 'minion' comes from Middle French 'mignon' in the sense of a favourite or darling.
A plant of the genus Reseda, especially Reseda odorata, cultivated for its fragrant greenish flowers, or its light greyish-green colour.
Mignonette is usually literary, formal, specialized (horticulture/botany), historical in register.
Mignonette: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪnjəˈnɛt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪnjəˈnɛt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a TINY (petite) NET made of delicate, fragrant green flowers.
Conceptual Metaphor
DELICACY IS A FRAGRANT GREEN FLOWER.
Practice
Quiz
In a historical textile context, 'mignonette' most likely refers to: