1
a
: a hybrid between a horse and a donkey
especially
: the offspring of a male donkey and a mare
b
: a self-sterile plant whether hybrid or not
c
: a usually sterile hybrid
2
: a very stubborn person
3
: a machine for simultaneously drawing and twisting fiber into yarn or thread and winding it into cops
4
slang
: a person who smuggles or delivers illicit substances (such as drugs)
variants
or less commonly Mule
plural mules also Mules
: moscow mule
The marvelous take on a classic mule swaps ginger beer for ginger kombucha … for a crisp, fresh-tasting award-worthy cocktail …—
PR Newswire
PR NewswireExamples of mule in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 18 Jan. 2025
The Amazon Original unscripted series Tom Green Country follows Green’s life on his country farm, which includes his 1,500-pound mule, a donkey and six chickens.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025
The series chronicles Green’s life on a farm with a 1,500-pound mule, a donkey and six chickens.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025
In 1923, workers used mules to haul wood and sheet metal up the slope.
—Clara Westhoff, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for mule 
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Noun
Michelle Williams, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Elizabeth Olsen in Tory Burch pierced mules at Tory Burch’s spring 2025 show.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 18 Jan. 2025
The Amazon Original unscripted series Tom Green Country follows Green’s life on his country farm, which includes his 1,500-pound mule, a donkey and six chickens.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025
The series chronicles Green’s life on a farm with a 1,500-pound mule, a donkey and six chickens.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025
In 1923, workers used mules to haul wood and sheet metal up the slope.
—Clara Westhoff, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for mule
Dictionary Entries Near mule
Cite this Entry
“Mule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mule. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mule
1 of 2 noun1
: the hybrid offspring of a horse and a donkey
especially
: the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse
2
: a very stubborn person
3
: a machine that draws and twists fiber into yarn or thread and winds it onto spindles
mule
2 of 2 noun
: a shoe or slipper that is open at the heel
Etymology
Noun
Middle English mule "the offspring of a donkey and a horse," from early French mul (same meaning), from Latin multus (same meaning)
Noun
from early French mule "slipper," from mulleus "a shoe worn by public officials"
Medical Definition
mule
noun
: a hybrid between a horse and a donkey
especially
: the offspring of a male donkey and a mare
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