What does "mutton" mean?
The meat of sheep used as food; especially, that of adults.
Mutton
/ˈmʌt(ə)n/ adj, name, noun, slang
adj, name, noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The meat of sheep used as food; especially, that of adults.
- Grammar: mutton is listed as adj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: adult sheep meat, agneau, bellwether, breast of lamb.
- Useful contrasts: hogget, lamb, raw mutton.
- Usage evidence: When was the last time you ate mutton?
How to use "mutton"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mutton" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mutton" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mutton" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mutton" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mutton" is acting as adj, name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adult sheep meat" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mutton", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The meat of sheep used as food; especially, that of adults. countable, uncountable
"Mutton, eaten with caraway seed, is eaten as an aphrodisiac among Arabs."
- 2 meat from a mature domestic sheep wordnet
- 3 The meat of a goat, urial, or other caprine. countable, uncountable
"This prejudice against goat mutton is founded upon ignorance rather than experience. The most ill-smelling “billy” of the worst possible type is made the standard of goat flesh for the whole goat family."
- 4 A sheep. archaic, countable, uncountable
- 5 Em, a unit of measurement equal to the height of the type in use. countable, slang, uncountable
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A prostitute. countable, obsolete, slang, uncountable
- 7 An old Anglo-French gold coin impressed with the image of a lamb. countable, historical, uncountable
Adjective
- 1 deaf. Cockney, not-comparable, slang
"He's been a bit mutton in one ear for a long time; not due to my mother, but as a result of all the years spent working in a noisy car factory."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"When was the last time you ate mutton?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mutton"?
Common synonyms include: adult sheep meat, agneau, bellwether, breast of lamb, cooked mutton, ewe.
How do you use "mutton" in a sentence?
When was the last time you ate mutton?
How do you pronounce "mutton"?
Pronounced /ˈmʌt(ə)n/.
Etymology
From Middle English motoun, moton, from Old French mouton (“sheep”), from Vulgar Latin moltō, from Gaulish *multon-, from Proto-Celtic *moltos (“ram, wether”). Doublet of mouton.