What does dint mean?
Dint originally meant a blow or stroke strong enough to leave a visible impression on a surface — a meaning it shares with its close relative 'dent'. In modern English, however, the word survives almost exclusively in the phrase 'by dint of', which expresses the idea that something was achieved through the force, effort, or persistent application of some quality: 'He succeeded by dint of hard work.' The phrase carries a slightly formal, literary tone and typically emphasizes determination, skill, or repeated exertion rather than luck. The literal sense — a physical impact or the mark it leaves — is now rare and chiefly encountered in older texts, though writers occasionally revive it for evocative effect. Because 'by dint of' remains current in both British and American English, the word is worth knowing precisely for this construction, where it functions much like 'through' or 'by means of' but with a stronger suggestion of struggle and perseverance.
A blow or stroke, especially one that leaves a dent or impression on a surface.
"Every dint in the shield told of a battle fought long ago."
This literal sense is archaic or literary in contemporary English.
(In the phrase 'by dint of') the force, effort, or means by which something is accomplished.
"She mastered the language by dint of daily practice."
This is the only sense in regular modern use; it is moderately formal.
(Archaic) To strike or indent with a blow.
"The blacksmith dinted the soft metal into shape."
This verbal use is obsolete except in historical writing; 'dent' has replaced it.
The plural applies mainly to the rare literal sense of blows or marks; the idiomatic phrase 'by dint of' does not pluralize.
"The armor's surface was covered with countless dints from past campaigns."
Almost nobody says 'dint' on its own anymore — it survives almost entirely inside the phrase 'by dint of', making it one of English's great fossil words.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dint
Dint descends from Old English 'dynt', meaning a blow or stroke, formed within the Germanic family of languages. The modern form 'dent' arose as a phonetic variant of 'dint' in the medieval period and eventually specialized to mean the indentation left by such a blow. By the sixteenth century, 'by dint of' had developed into the idiomatic expression denoting force or effective means, which is the principal way the word lives on today.
How dint is actually used
Outside the fixed phrase 'by dint of', 'dint' sounds distinctly literary or archaic in modern usage. The phrase itself is somewhat formal and often implies sustained effort or persistence rather than brute strength.
Easily confused with dint
A dent is the mark left by a blow, while a dint can mean either the blow itself or, figuratively, the force or means of achieving something.