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; see diminution, -ive

Explanation

Diminutive means small. A diminutive person is short and small. A diminutive word is a "cute" version of a word or name: for example, "duckling" is a diminutive of "duck" and Billy is a diminutive form of the name William. A diminutive name or word is formed from another by the addition of a suffix expressing smallness in size: a booklet is a small book, and a dinette is a small version of a dining set. The adjective diminutive descends from Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin dīminūtīvus, from Latin dēminuere, "to lessen."

Example Sentences

But the diminutive man’s plainspoken demeanor failed to gain traction with California voters — a 1991 Times profile deemed him “the unknown senator.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

The diminutive Portugal international, once of Wolves, makes Luis Enrique's European champions tick.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

"Lera was a ray of sunshine. She loved Odesa, Ukrainian culture, the opera," she said, using Valeria's diminutive name.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

A diminutive boy in a wrapper of what looks like birch bark, his wild hair sticking up at odd angles, walks to the dais.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

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