diminutive

American  

[dih-min-yuh-tiv] / dɪˈmɪn yə tɪv /

adjective

1. small; little; tiny.

   a diminutive building for a model-train layout.

2. Grammar. pertaining to or productive of a form denoting smallness, familiarity, affection, or triviality, as the suffix -let, in droplet from drop.

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noun

1. a small thing or person.

2. Grammar. a diminutive element or formation.

3. Heraldry. a charge, as an ordinary, smaller in length or breadth than the usual.

diminutive British  

/ dɪˌmɪnjʊˈtaɪvəl, dɪˈmɪnjʊtɪv /

adjective

1. very small; tiny

2. grammar

   1. denoting an affix added to a word to convey the meaning small or unimportant or to express affection, as for example the suffix -ette in French

   2. denoting a word formed by the addition of a diminutive affix

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noun

1. grammar a diminutive word or affix

2. a tiny person or thing

Related Words

See little.

Other Word Forms

• diminutival adjective
• diminutively adverb
• diminutiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of diminutive

First recorded before 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin dīminūtīvus, equivalent to Latin dīminūt(us) “lessened” (for dēminūtus ) + -īvus adjective suffix; diminution, -ive

Example Sentences

A diminutive girl appears and sets a bundle of envelopes on the desk.

From Literature

The more diminutive the firm, the better its performance was over that stretch.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dictators, autocrats and other malign actors strategically use humor as a type of diminutive to minimize their real intent and to distract the public and media.

From Salon

Called Giant, the film chronicles the boxer's journey from being a diminutive working-class boy to an international superstar - who only lost one fight.

From BBC

The bespectacled and diminutive officer became military chief in 2011, as Myanmar broke with its history of iron-fisted martial rule and began its latest experiment with democracy.

From Barron's

Related Words

• little
• mini
• miniature
• minuscule
• minute
• petite
• small
• tiny