What does mend mean?
Mend means to repair, restore, or make something sound again. The word is commonly used for fixing torn clothing, broken objects, damaged fences, and other physical defects, but it can also mean to heal an injury. In figurative contexts, to mend a relationship, reputation, situation, or matter refers to improving something that has become damaged or strained. The expression “mend one's ways” means to improve one's behavior after wrongdoing. Mend is now slightly more traditional than repair in everyday speech, especially for physical objects, but it remains natural and idiomatic. Its range of meanings gives it a useful distinction: mending typically emphasizes restoring something to a good condition, while repair can also mean fixing a specific fault or problem.
To repair something broken, damaged, or torn; to heal an injury; or figuratively, to improve a relationship, situation, or conduct.
"They worked together to mend the old stone wall."
Figurative uses are idiomatic and often formal or traditional.
A repair, patch, or act of restoring something damaged; also an occasion or place where a person is being mended.
"The tailor made a careful mend in the coat."
This noun use is much less common than the verb and is somewhat old-fashioned in modern English.
The plural is used mainly in the relatively uncommon noun sense, especially for individual repairs or patches.
"The old jacket was covered with mends and patches."
From repairing torn fabric to repairing damaged relationships, mend has always meant restoring something to a sound or workable condition.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mend come from?
The word comes from Old English mendan, meaning “to repair” or “to make good,” and continues Germanic forms such as Dutch mend and German menden. Its Indo-European root is also reflected in Latin emendare, “to correct” or “to improve,” which is the source of the related English word amend.
Related word forms
How mend is actually used
The verb is common in both British and American English. Its figurative uses, especially for relationships, reputations, and conduct, are established but often sound somewhat formal or traditional.
Easily confused with mend
Mending usually means repairing or restoring something, whereas amending means formally correcting or changing a document, rule, or law.