ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mint condition

idiom
Meaning

The condition of newness or perfection, as if just freshly minted.


Origin

first recorded 19th c.

Originally, the phrase comes from the way collectors described the condition of coins coming straight from the mint (coin factory). First use appears c. 1897.

Examples
SIMPLE

He keeps his old comic books in mint condition.

CONTEXTUAL

The collector was happy to find the vintage watch in mint condition after all these years.

COMPLEX

Despite being manufactured over half a century ago, the rare automobile remained in mint condition, preserved meticulously by its original owner.

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