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 employee said the women attacked him with a stiletto shoe, according to KTRK. —Jennifer Rodriguez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2025

For a few hours a day at low tide, architects, teachers, students, police officers, builders, bakers and dog walkers across London swap their stilettos, sneakers and brogues for rubber boots. —Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Apr. 2025

To keep her legs warm, Amal added a pair of low-denier black tights and a pair of thigh-high suede pointy-toe stiletto boots. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2025

The look was finished off with a white coat draped over her shoulders, ankle-strap stilettos, and oversized sunglasses. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 8 Apr. 2025

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