# minstrel

/ˈmɪnstɹəɫ/ (US) · /mˈɪnstɹəl/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/minstrel
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a person who sings and plays music for an audience, often telling stories or jokes. In the past, this word was used for traveling musicians who performed in medieval Europe.

For teachers: a person who performs music and poetry, typically in a public or courtly setting. Historically associated with medieval and Renaissance Europe, the term now carries a literary or archaic tone.

## Examples

- The minstrel played a lute and sang a ballad about the king.
- In the medieval village, the local minstrel was the only person who could keep the children entertained with stories of knights and dragons.
- The poet's work was often performed by a wandering minstrel, whose ability to memorize and recite hundreds of lines of verse was considered a remarkable feat of the oral tradition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.