diminutive

[ dih-min-yuh-tiv ]

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.

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

/ 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

noun

1. grammar a diminutive word or affix
2. a tiny person or thing

Derived Forms

• diˈminutiveness, noun
• diminutival, adjective
• diˈminutively, adverb

Other Words From

• di·minu·tive·ly adverb
• di·minu·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of diminutive¹

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

Synonym Study

See little.

Example Sentences

With the future of their species at stake, three diminutive astronauts — Brittany, Alph, and Captain Charlie — set off in a treehouse-sized spaceship, hoping to filch every last piece of fruit they can find on PNF-404’s surface.

From Washington Post

Hydrogen’s diminutive size lets electrons get closer to the nodes of the lattice, augmenting their interactions with the vibrations.

From Quanta Magazine

In 2011, scientists found the sculptors — the diminutive males of what was then a new species of Torquigener pufferfish.

From Science News

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a diminutive yet towering women’s rights champion who became the court’s second female justice, died Friday at her home in Washington.

From Fortune

From the diminutive Pathfinder rover back in 1997 to the twin sisters Spirit and Opportunity, and the still-roaming Curiosity—the effective older sibling of Perseverance in design and scale.

From Nautilus

Her style, much like her diminutive nickname, is best described as “Hamptons twee”—preppy and peppy.

From The Daily Beast

Tyrion, now on the lam for patricide by crossbow, is destined for an unknown foreign port like a diminutive Edward Snowden.

From The Daily Beast

Similar to the Space Shuttle in appearance, the diminutive X-37B is about a quarter the size of the old shuttles.

From The Daily Beast

Edmund Morgan, 97 Diminutive, almost elfin in appearance, he bestrode his field like a colossus.

From The Daily Beast

The diminutive history teacher turned soldier once said he learned his trade in the bush.

From The Daily Beast

A light-colored mulatto boy, in dress coat and bearing a diminutive silver tray for the reception of cards, admitted them.

From Project Gutenberg

A very diminutive man, instructing his young son, told him if he neglected his learning he would never grow tall.

From Project Gutenberg

Its diminutive size and its unpopularity, however, prevent its general culture in this country.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet this diminutive building served the needs of the place from the days of Edward VI.

From Project Gutenberg

Its very diminutive stove stands near to its extremely small door, which is in close proximity to its unusually little window.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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