minutiae

[ mi-noo-shee-ee, mi-noo-shuh, -shee-uh, -nyoo- ]

plural noun

, singular mi·nu·ti·a [mi-, noo, -sh, uh, -shee-, uh, -, nyoo, -].

1. precise details; small or trifling matters:

   the minutiae of his craft.

minutiae

/ mɪˈnjuːʃɪˌiː /

plural noun

1. small, precise, or trifling details

Usage Note

Minutia, the singular form meaning “a precise detail; a small or trifling matter” is much less common than the plural. However, this singular form is often used in place of the plural form minutiae , with the same plural meaning and plural verb: She has a great facility for remembering minutia that are relevant to the conversation. And the plural form minutiae is sometimes used as a collective noun with a singular verb: The minutiae of daily life is the stuff that anchors us and gives us a sense of purpose. Both of these usages have been criticized in style guides.

Other Words From

• mi·nu·ti·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of minutiae¹

First recorded in 1745–55; from Latin, plural of minūtia “smallness, fineness,” equivalent to minūt(us) “small, tiny” + -ia; minute ², -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of minutiae¹

C18: pl of Late Latin minūtia smallness, from Latin minūtus minute ²

Example Sentences

This inveterate list maker also loved minutiae; in his copious account books, he kept track of every cent he ever spent.

From The Daily Beast

Trekkies are defensive about the minutiae of their sacred source material, sometimes to the point of pretension.

From The Daily Beast

The two companies have been competing over minutiae for a long time.

From The Daily Beast

By and large, they tend to be carefully choreographed retellings of political minutiae that serve to justify decisions.

From The Daily Beast

This I can assert as a fact, that those distinctions are perceived by the angels in heaven as to their minutiae.

From Project Gutenberg

I am very close and careful you see, in all minutiae; always was,—pave 'em with rubbish and stones, 6d.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no need to go through the minutiae of the struggle.

From Project Gutenberg

This Sunday morning she was very busy with domestic minutiae.

From Project Gutenberg

She seemed to understand his trials by instinct, and even the minutiae of his work made themselves curiously clear to her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• trivia