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

The four-stage HEPA filter also prevents microscopic particles from escaping back into the air. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

Cyclosporiasis is caused by a microscopic parasite and is usually contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite; it is not spread directly from person to person like a typical stomach virus. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 11 Aug. 2026

While shark bites get more attention, the microscopic shark that is Vibrio vulnificans can also rob you of life or limb. — Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026

Researchers in Japan have unveiled how thousands of microscopic particles can spontaneously pair up, move, and reorganize themselves by breaking Newton’s action-reaction symmetry. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 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