modicum

noun

mo·​di·​cum ˈmä-di-kəm How to pronounce modicum (audio)
 also  ˈmō-
: a small portion : a limited quantity
had only a modicum of mathematical skills

Did you know?

The Origins of Modicum Can Be Found in the Bathroom

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the English language has more than a modicum of words referring to a small amount of something—it has oodles, from smidgen to soupçon. But while modicum can be applied to countable or physical things (like words or salt) it is almost always applied instead to abstract concepts like respect, success, control, hope, dignity, or privacy. Modicum traces back to the Latin noun modus, meaning “measure,” which just so happens to be the ancestor of more than a modicum of English words, from moderate and modify to mold and commode.

Examples of modicum in a Sentence

only a modicum of skill is necessary to put the kit together
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The other team could have a modicum of hope because at 1-3, the playoffs still remain a possibility – just one that’s very, very slim. Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025 And yet a new revolution precipitated by the betrayals of an older uprising ought to prompt us to view what is now unfolding in Nepal, despite its appearance of promise, with at least a modicum of wariness. Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025 His days as a starting pitcher are gone — save for a unique scenario Wednesday, when he’ll be called into action — but that same modicum of joy remains. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025 The manager did not believe a lineup that had slugged the most home runs in the National League needed to deviate from its identity to finally produce runs with a modicum of consistency. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for modicum

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, neuter of modicus moderate, from modus measure

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of modicum was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Modicum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modicum. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

modicum

noun
mo·​di·​cum ˈmäd-i-kəm How to pronounce modicum (audio)
ˈmōd-
: a small amount
anyone with a modicum of intelligence would understand

More from Merriam-Webster on modicum

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