microscopic

adjective

mi·​cro·​scop·​ic ˌmī-krə-ˈskä-pik 

variants or less commonly microscopical

ˌmī-krə-ˈskä-pi-kəl 

1

: resembling a microscope especially in perception

2

a

: invisible or indistinguishable without the use of a microscope

b

: very small or fine or precise

3

: of, relating to, or conducted with the microscope or microscopy

microscopically

ˌmī-krə-ˈskä-pi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of microscopic

• tiny
• minuscule
• miniature

Examples of microscopic in a Sentence

At this point, the embryo is a microscopic clump of only 100 cells.

There is a microscopic crack in the diamond.

He has a microscopic attention span.

He recorded every aspect of his trip in microscopic detail.

a microscopic study of plant tissues

Recent Examples on the Web

And while chip diagrams quickly age out of their microscopic, high-technology medium, Schultz’s microchip rugs take the components on which our world operates and draw out their intricacies and beauty. — Lua Vollaard, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026

These interactions left behind features in the two mudstones that look just like features created by microscopic life in sediments on Earth. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 24 June 2026

Now, a South Korean research team has found a way to trap that heat by turning solid structures into microscopic pipes. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 June 2026

In a nutshell, thermodynamic computing seeks to harness thermal noise—the ubiquitous microscopic jiggling of electrons caused by heat—to execute useful computation. — Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for microscopic

• allotropic
• arthroscopic
• barotropic
• cystoscopic
• endoscopic
• gyroscopic
• hygroscopic
• isentropic
• isotopic
• isotropic
• macroscopic
• misanthropic

Kids Definition

microscopic

adjective

mi·​cro·​scop·​ic ˌmī-krə-ˈskäp-ik 

variants also microscopical

-ˈskäp-i-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or conducted with the microscope or microscopy

a microscopic examination

2

: resembling a microscope : able to see very tiny objects

some insects have microscopic vision

3

: able to be seen only through a microscope : very small

a microscopic plant

microscopically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

microscopic

adjective

mi·​cro·​scop·​ic ˌmī-krə-ˈskäp-ik 

variants or microscopical

-i-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or conducted with the microscope or microscopy

2

: so small or fine as to be invisible or indistinguishable without the use of a microscope compare macroscopic, submicroscopic, ultramicroscopic sense 1

microscopically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb