What does minim mean?
A minim is most commonly a musical note lasting as long as two crotchets, equivalent to a half note in US terminology and a semibreve in British terminology. In older, literary, or highly technical usage, a minim can instead mean an exceedingly small amount, particle, or quantity, something scarcely perceptible. The contrast with minimum is chiefly one of convention: a minimum is the smallest permissible or possible value, whereas a minim denotes a minute amount and also functions as the name of a notated duration. In musical contexts, minim is an exact technical term rather than a description of a small note, so its length is defined relative to other note values. The word comes from Latin minimus, meaning “smallest,” through French. Today it is much less common than note, duration, or minimum, but it remains useful when precision about notation or an almost negligible quantity matters.
nounA minim is a musical note whose duration is equal to two crotchets, equivalent to a half note in US terminology and a semibreve in British terminology. In older or literary usage, it can also mean an exceedingly small amount or particle.
- A musical note equal in duration to two crotchets, also called a half note or, in British terminology, a semibreve.
- An exceedingly small quantity, particle, or amount, chiefly in older, literary, or philosophical usage.
"The soloist held the final minim until its two beats had slowly elapsed."
"The orchestra played a soft minim as the curtain began to rise."
"The archive preserved not a minim of the original letter."
The standard plural is minims, although it is now uncommon outside technical or historical discussion.
"The score contains two minims, each lasting two crotchets."
A minim is literally a half note, yet its name ultimately means “smallest”—even though it is not the shortest musical note.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does minim come from?
English minim comes through French minime from Latin minimus, the superlative of minor, meaning “smallest.” The word was used in English for an extremely small amount or particle before and alongside its musical sense for a note lasting two crotchets. Related English forms such as minimum, minimal, and minimize continue to reflect the Latin root.
Related word forms
How minim is actually used
In modern standard English, the musical sense is the most familiar. The sense meaning an extremely small amount is chiefly literary, archaic, or technical and may sound deliberately formal or historical.
Easily confused with minim
A minim is a half note and, in older usage, an exceedingly small quantity, whereas a minimum is the smallest possible or permitted amount.