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

For Twigs, who has spent much of 2025 testing the limits of scale and fetishistic form, the stiletto reads as both archival and corrective — a pivot into sleekness at a show designed to reframe Ford’s legacy for a new era. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025

Footwear ranged from sexy stilettos to fuzzy slippers, and the bag of choice was soft and furry, perfect for cuddling up after a night out. —CNN Money, 27 Sep. 2025

Wearing Inappropriate Apparel Save the stilettos or polished leather shoes for another day. —Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2025

Jenner completed the flirty look with matching bubblegum pink stiletto nails and wore bubblegum pink blush on the apples of her cheeks. —Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 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