petite

1 of 2

adjective

pe·​tite pə-ˈtēt 

: having a small trim figure

—usually used of a woman

petiteness noun

petite

2 of 2

noun

: a clothing size for short women

Examples of petite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But as a petite woman who’s just under 5 feet tall, finding styles that don’t drag on the ground or overwhelm my frame can be tricky. — Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026

Read on to find the 12 best petite deals worth snagging from brands like Hanes, Lee, and Gap, and bid farewell to dragging hemlines and ill-fitting clothing once and for all. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026

Noun

These high-rise flare jeans go with everything and come in both long and short inseams—crucial for the petite among us. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 15 Aug. 2026

With a 26-inch inseam option, petites can finally skip the tailor and spend that extra cash on a round of gelato instead. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French, feminine of petit

First Known Use

Adjective

1766, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing petite

• petite bourgeoisie
• petite sirah
• petite syrah

Rhymes for petite

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

petite

adjective

pe·​tite

pə-ˈtēt

: having a small trim figure