What does mime mean?
“Mime” most commonly names a performer who communicates without speaking, using expressive gestures, facial expressions, and physical movement. As a verb, it means to imitate someone's actions, appearance, or manner, often with deliberate exaggeration and without vocal sound. The word also has a specialized technical use: MIME is the Internet standard governing the format and encoding of email messages and their attachments, and it is normally written in capital letters. In everyday conversation, “mime” is usually associated with stage and street performance, pantomime, and visual comedy. It can also be used more figuratively when someone resembles another person in an obvious or amusing way. Although the word now suggests an absence of speech, its history is rooted in ancient theatrical traditions of masked performers and deliberate imitation.
A performer who acts without speaking, using gestures, facial expressions, and body movement; in technical usage, MIME is the Internet standard for formatting and encoding electronic mail and attached files.
"The mime entertained the children with an expressive routine about a runaway balloon."
The theatrical sense is most common in general use. The technical abbreviation MIME is normally capitalized.
To imitate or represent someone's actions, appearance, or manner, especially without speaking.
"She could mime her teacher's nervous habit of smoothing her hair."
The verb often carries an implication of conspicuous or exaggerated imitation.
Used for more than one performer who acts silently.
"The circus featured two mimes who performed a comic routine together."
A mime turns silence into a performance—and the word preserves an ancient Greek theatrical tradition.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of mime
English borrowed the noun from French mime, which ultimately comes from Greek mimos, an actor or mimic in the ancient Greek theatre. The verb developed in association with the theatrical sense of representing another person through movement and gesture. Related English words such as mimic, mimicry, mimesis, and mimetic reflect the same broader Greek tradition of imitation and representation.
Related word forms
How mime is actually used
As a verb, “mime” often suggests an exaggerated or theatrical imitation and can be mildly dismissive when applied to ordinary human behavior. The technical abbreviation MIME is normally capitalized.
Easily confused with mime
A mime typically performs silently through stylized movement, whereas a mimic generally copies another person's appearance, voice, or behavior.