minefield

noun

mine·​field ˈmīn-ˌfēld How to pronounce minefield (audio)
1
: an area (as of water or land) set with mines
2
: something resembling a minefield especially in having many dangers or requiring extreme caution
a political minefield

Examples of minefield in a Sentence

This issue is a political minefield.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And then there is a producer fearless enough to cross the minefield, knowing that on the far side waits a festival circuit slightly fatigued by war stories from Ukraine. — Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026 But, potential cultural- commentary minefield aside, the role was everything Sessa had been looking for. — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026 Lara Miller, a content creator who documents her fashion finds for larger breasts posted a video recently about how the simple act of wearing a summer dress can turn into a minefield. — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 That is, in part, because Ukraine has built additional lines of defense with fortifications and minefields. — Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for minefield

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of minefield was in 1884

Rhymes for minefield

See All Rhymes for minefield

Browse Nearby Words

mine detector
minefield
minehead
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Cite this Entry

“Minefield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minefield. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on minefield

Nglish: Translation of minefield for Spanish Speakers

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