stiletto

noun

sti·​let·​to stə-ˈle-(ˌ)tō 

plural stilettos or stilettoes

1

: a slender dagger with a blade thick in proportion to its breadth

2

: a pointed instrument for piercing holes for eyelets or embroidery

3

: stiletto heel

also : a shoe with a stiletto heel

Examples of stiletto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wearing impractical stilettos and clutching a massive Stanley cup, Trina is introduced to her new pupils. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Featuring a sleek black column skirt and minimalist stilettos, the look, while pared-back, was far from boring thanks to a creamy sleeveless top with a voluminous feather-like hem. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

The Babylone style is a laced stiletto sandal that is decorated at the toe strap with the YSL Cassandre in a bronze-tone metal. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

For Celine, Quashie roughly painted nails on the same hand different bricky shades, and for Matières Fécales, manicurist Lora de Sousa offered all lengths and shapes of red, from curling claws to XXL ovals and sharp stilettos. — Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian, diminutive of stilo stylus, dagger, from Latin stilus stylus — more at style

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stiletto

• stiletto heel

Rhymes for stiletto

• hereto
• libretto
• magneto
• palmetto
• whereto
• allegretto
• lazaretto
• ghetto
• seto

Kids Definition

stiletto

noun

sti·​let·​to stə-ˈlet-ō 

plural stilettos or stilettoes

: a slender dagger