petite

American  

[puh-teet] / pəˈtit /

adjective

1. relating to or being a woman who is short and has a small, trim figure; diminutive: The sash accentuates her petite waist.

   She is a petite brunette.

   The sash accentuates her petite waist.

2. small; little.

   I usually buy frozen petite peas.

   Traveling by air with your petite pooch or kitty has never been easier!

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noun

1. a category of clothing sized for women or girls of less than average height.

2. a garment in such a size.

   The petites are on that rack.

3. a woman or girl who wears clothing of such a size.

petite British  

/ pəˈtiːt /

adjective

1. (of a woman) small, delicate, and dainty

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Other Word Forms

• petiteness noun

Etymology

Origin of petite

First recorded in 1760–70; from French; feminine of petit

Example Sentences

The privacy policy it puts forth does have the benefit of transparency, but ultimately, it’s just a list of what Avast collects, with only a petite section that lists what it doesn’t collect.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

In the middle of the two-story space, May’s petite cafe sits tucked beneath the concrete staircase that leads to a terrace, the ideal place for cooling off mid shopping spree.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Michelle, petite and pale, has lost about 40 pounds over the past year.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

A petite, blond mother of four, Johnson found herself deeply upset by the children, touching them as she passed and handing out pieces of protein bars and fruit she carried in her bag, Ziesing remembers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

Very petite to begin with, in nine months she gained only eight pounds and never even wore maternity clothes.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• dainty
• diminutive