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

This being “Primal,” they’re set upon by a group of diminutive flesh-eaters with jagged teeth, igniting a life-or-death skirmish that, miraculously, steals the viewer’s breath.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2026

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 • Jan. 10, 2026

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 • Dec. 23, 2025

Memorable figures include the town barber and perpetual bachelor, Jayber Crow, and the Falstaffian 300-pound farmer Ptolemy Proudfoot, who lives happily with his diminutive wife, Miss Minnie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

The diminutive woman stood up and spread her arms wide, tilting her head back.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Related Words

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