petite

1 of 3

adjective

pe·​tite pə-ˈtēt 

: having a small trim figure

—usually used of a woman

petiteness noun

petite

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a clothing size for short women

petiteness

3 of 3

noun (2)

pe·​tite·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being petite

Examples of petite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

By day, guests recline on chunky loungers beneath towering palms and oversized parasols and cool off in the petite infinity pool; by evening, the atmosphere shifts as DJs take to the decks. — Vicki Power, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026

That’s important to me, as a petite girl; leaving the cuff of the pants out will help elongate the legs and let the boots act as a complement rather than a focal point. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2026

Noun

When shopping for your own pair, Foster recommends the brand Tecovas for petites because many of its styles have 14- to 15-inch shafts and tend to arrive feeling already broken in. — Malia Griggs, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2026

Finding comfortable pieces that look great and are travel-friendly, however, isn’t always easy—especially for petites. — Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French, feminine of petit

First Known Use

Adjective

1766, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing petite

• petite bourgeoisie
• petite sirah
• petite syrah

Rhymes for petite

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

petite

adjective

pe·​tite

pə-ˈtēt

: having a small trim figure