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

The black satin platform booties, which retail for $2,195, featured a bold square toe box, a corset-esque lace-up detail in front, and a skinny over six-inch stiletto. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026

Taylor’s Thom Browne platforms joined a stretch of shoes that has already moved from sharp stilettos to wedges and performance sneakers this year. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 7 Feb. 2026

The film opens to Melania leaving Mar-a-Lago professionally dressed and made up, striding atop towering stilettos. —Elizabeth Spiers, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026

The city has a glam reputation, but no one is actually wearing toothpick-thin stilettos like on Emily in Paris, especially in the winter. —Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 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