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

But nobody is scuffing the dining table with their stilettos; no one is stargazing out in the garden. —Kitty Ruskin, Time, 26 June 2025

The fashion designer wore her jacket as a minidress with fishnet tights and stilettos while the soccer icon opted for a suit with loafers. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 15 June 2025

The blue, silver, and lavender sparkly dress featured a corseted waist and sweetheart neckline—a silhouette and style straight from the Lauren Sánchez school of style—and delicate silver stilettos that flashed her pale pink pedicure. —Vogue, 23 May 2025

Miley Cyrus marked her arrival in Paris on Tuesday with a subtle nod to the city’s fashion history, wearing an archival dress from late designer Patrick Kelly paired with classic black stilettos. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 18 June 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