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 yeast cells therefore behave a bit like millions of microscopic sticky particles inside the binder. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026

When raindrops hit dry ground and plants, the impact creates microscopic bubbles filled with geosmin and oils that rise into the air, pop and scatter into tiny particles that can then fill human nostrils. — Gregory Wakeman, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026

In the series of small works measuring 11 by 15 inches, Nickless imagines microscopic forms resembling cells and bacteria. — Erin Parish, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

In mid-September, Nikon announced that the video, which was created using an advanced microscopic imaging tool, had won the 16th annual Nikon Small World in Motion competition. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 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