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
Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 24 Feb. 2025
To get water up to the fire, the trail crew filled five-gallon jugs and lashed them to mules.
—Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
Or, wear Altuzarra’s Kinski maxi skirt with leather mules and an oversized sweater.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025
The team and its mules are hosting a distribution event in Black Mountain, North Carolina for those continuing to be impacted by Helene’s aftermath.
—Devyn Byers, CNN, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mule
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Noun
This isn’t some fashion formula that’s difficult to decode; these beautiful dresses are easily toughened up with slouchy leather boots to create a cool juxtaposition for day and look just as swell with open toe mules for springtime evenings.
—Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 24 Feb. 2025
To get water up to the fire, the trail crew filled five-gallon jugs and lashed them to mules.
—Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
Or, wear Altuzarra’s Kinski maxi skirt with leather mules and an oversized sweater.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025
The team and its mules are hosting a distribution event in Black Mountain, North Carolina for those continuing to be impacted by Helene’s aftermath.
—Devyn Byers, CNN, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mule
Cite this Entry
“Mule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mule. Accessed 3 Mar. 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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