islet

noun

is·​let ˈī-lət 

1

: a little island

2

: islet of langerhans

Synonyms

• island

Examples of islet in a Sentence

landed the boat on a tiny islet that we had all to ourselves

Recent Examples on the Web

While all rooms and suites at the hotel have stunning sea views across to the tiny islet of Palaiosouda; the villas, which are perched high above the property, have wilder, uninterrupted panoramas and are set slightly apart from the main hub of the hotel, for an elevated feel. —Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Working with the spleens of primates (macaques), the team engineered microenvironments within the test organs to support human pancreatic islets. —Discover Magazine, 23 May 2025

Guests can also jet off to the private islet of Motu Tapu for a picnic in the water. —Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2025

The latest incursion started before dawn on Friday, when two Chinese Coast Guard ships entered territorial waters around the islet of Minamikojima, apparently chasing a much smaller Japanese fishing boat. —David Pierson, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing islet

• islet of Langerhans

Rhymes for islet

• eyelet
• pilot
• stylet
• autopilot

Kids Definition

islet

noun

is·​let ˈī-lət 

1

: a little island

2

: islet of Langerhans

Medical Definition

islet

noun

is·​let ˈī-lət 

: a small isolated mass of one type of tissue within a different type

specifically : islet of langerhans