miniscule

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min·​is·​cule ˈmi-nə-ˌskyül 

disputed spelling variant of minuscule

Is it minuscule or miniscule?: Usage Guide

The adjective minuscule comes from the Latin word minus ("smaller"), but associations with mini- ("smaller or briefer than usual, normal, or standard") have produced the spelling variant miniscule. This variant dates to the end of the 19th century, and it now occurs commonly in published writing, but it continues to be widely regarded as an error.

minuscule

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adjective

mi·​nus·​cule ˈmi-nə-ˌskyül 

also mi-ˈnə-

1

: very small

minuscule amounts

2

: written in or in the size or style of minuscules

minuscule

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noun

1

: a lowercase letter

2

a

: one of several ancient and medieval writing styles developed from cursive and having simplified and small forms

b

: a letter in this style

Did you know?

Minuscule comes from the Latin adjective minusculus ("somewhat smaller" or "fairly small"), which in turn pairs the base of minus ("smaller") with -culus, a diminutive suffix (that is, one indicating small size). The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word’s etymology, but that didn’t stop English speakers from adopting the variant spelling miniscule, likely because they associated it with the combining form mini- and such words as minimal and minimum. Usage commentators generally consider the miniscule spelling an error, but it is widely used in reputable and carefully edited publications, and is accepted as a legitimate variant in some dictionaries. (Our own dictionary identifies miniscule as a "disputed spelling variant.")

Synonyms of miniscule

Adjective

• tiny
• microscopic

Examples of miniscule in a Sentence

Adjective

public health officials have claimed that the chemical is harmless in such minuscule amounts

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Consider the watch nicknamed Don Poncho, a minuscule gold tonneau timepiece from 1940 featuring a minute repeater, retrograde date, and complete calendar. — Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2026

The Republican Party’s already minuscule 40 seats in the House appears set to shrink to 33 seats. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

Back then, the number of cinemas in Estonia, which had declared its independence in 1991 amid the collapse of the USSR, was still minuscule. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026

But nine in 10 Americans are concerned about the effect of the minuscule plastic pieces on the planet and their bodies, according to a 2025 poll conducted by environmental group 5 Gyres; and studies have shown that pods shed microplastics. — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from French & New Latin; French, "lower case (of a letter)," borrowed from New Latin minusculus, going back to Latin, "somewhat smaller, fairly small," from the base of minor, minus "smaller" (comparative of parvus "small") + -culus, diminutive suffix — more at minor entry 1

Noun

borrowed from French & New Latin; French, borrowed from New Latin minuscula (short for littera minuscula "smaller letter"), from feminine of Latin minusculus "somewhat smaller" — more at minuscule entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 1