Synonyms of minstrelsynext
1
: the singing and playing of a minstrel
2
: a body of minstrels
3
: a group of songs or verse

Synonyms of minstrelsy

Examples of minstrelsy in a Sentence

the traditional forms of German minstrelsy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From minstrelsy to cake walks to the chitlin circuit, the audience has always been crucial to the context. Lauren Morrow september 9, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025 And those fans, like him, dismissed the notion that the team’s on-court antics crossed the line from comedy to minstrelsy, as many critics had opined over the years. David Aldridge, The Athletic, 11 Feb. 2025 It was used as a dehumanizing form of minstrelsy that further objectified Black men. Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 1 May 2025 Maybe if you were deeply invested in the authenticity of Black Sabbath and that incarnation of Ozzy, The Osbournes was a betrayal, turning mayhem into minstrelsy. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for minstrelsy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mynstralcye, borrowed from Anglo-French menestralsie, menstralcie, from menestral, menstral minstrel + -sie, -cie -cy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of minstrelsy was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Minstrelsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minstrelsy. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

minstrelsy

noun
plural minstrelsies
1
: the singing and playing of a minstrel
2
: a body of minstrels
3
: a collection of songs or verse
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster