microscopic
adjective
mi·cro·scop·ic
ˌmī-krə-ˈskä-pik 
variants
or less commonly microscopical
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
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
Such lasers could allow researchers to track chemical reactions in real time, detect microscopic defects in nanoelectronics, and study materials with much higher resolution than before.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Mar. 2026
This allows it to get sucked right into all the microscopic crevices and pores of the surface, by the vacuum created by the seal.
—Ben Coxworth
march 11, New Atlas, 11 Mar. 2026
The resulting crystals are microscopic, the textbooks insist.
—Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
The potential impacts of mechanically removing nodules from the seafloor – through cutting, scraping or lifting – on these microscopic ecosystems remain largely unknown.
—Leonardo MacElloni, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for microscopic
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Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Mar. 2026
This allows it to get sucked right into all the microscopic crevices and pores of the surface, by the vacuum created by the seal.
—Ben Coxworth
march 11, New Atlas, 11 Mar. 2026
The resulting crystals are microscopic, the textbooks insist.
—Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
The potential impacts of mechanically removing nodules from the seafloor – through cutting, scraping or lifting – on these microscopic ecosystems remain largely unknown.
—Leonardo MacElloni, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for microscopic
Cite this Entry
“Microscopic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microscopic. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
microscopic
adjective
mi·cro·scop·ic
ˌmī-krə-ˈskäp-ik
variants
also microscopical
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
Medical Definition
microscopic
adjective
mi·cro·scop·ic
ˌmī-krə-ˈskäp-ik
variants
or microscopical
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
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