noun
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the ninth letter in the Greek alphabet (Ι, ι), a vowel or semivowel, transliterated as i or j
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(usually used with a negative) a very small amount; jot (esp in the phrase not one or an iota )
Etymology
Origin of iota
1600–10; < Latin iōta < Greek iôta < Semitic; compare Hebrew yōdh yod
Explanation
If you don't care one iota about something, it means you don’t care about it even one little bit. An iota is something very small. An iota is the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet. The expression "not one iota" comes from the Bible (Matthew 5:18): "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished."
Vocabulary lists containing iota
To Kill a Mockingbird
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 20–25
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Words You Need to See in the Wild
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But even those betray an iota of human-made whimsy, a sparkle of vulnerability.
From Slate • Jan. 7, 2026
Like the film’s title, the jokes in “Happy Gilmore 2” don’t require a single iota of thought, only a death-grip on nostalgia.
From Salon • Jul. 27, 2025
“What we do is so blood, sweat and tears — every iota of your being at times — and if you aren’t in it, it’s really hard to understand for certain people,” Bayne says.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2024
And Unison previously argued that negotiations had "not moved one iota" since it told Cosla it would move towards strike action.
From BBC • Jul. 24, 2024
I didn't feel an iota of guilt for lying.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
