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

Have lunch at the petite Picnic Real Food Bar, and don't worry if it's already run out of the plump and delicious pies (everything is worth trying). — Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026

Teacups and saucers make petite stands ideal for small items such as jewelry, while dinner and salad plates work well for culinary uses, such as serving cookies or petit fours at a party. — Jennifer Bradley Franklin, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2026

Noun

When shopping for your own pair, Foster recommends the brand Tecovas for petites because many of its styles have 14- to 15-inch shafts and tend to arrive feeling already broken in. — Malia Griggs, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2026

Finding comfortable pieces that look great and are travel-friendly, however, isn’t always easy—especially for petites. — Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 29 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