diminutive

1 of 2

noun

di·​min·​u·​tive də-ˈmi-nyə-tiv 

1

grammar : a word, affix, or name usually indicating small size : a diminutive (see diminutive entry 2 sense 1) word, affix, or name

2

: one that is notably small : a diminutive individual

diminutive

2 of 2

adjective

1

grammar : indicating small size and sometimes the state or quality of being familiarly known, lovable, pitiable, or contemptible

—used of affixes (such as -ette, -kin, -ling) and of words formed with them (such as kitchenette, manikin, duckling), of clipped forms (such as Jim), and of altered forms (such as Peggy) compare augmentative

2

: exceptionally or notably small : tiny

a diminutive performer

diminutively adverb

diminutiveness noun

Did you know?

Just as diminish means "to grow smaller", diminutive means "very small". When writing about language, diminutive as both an adjective and a noun refers to particular endings and the words made with them to indicate smallness. In English, such endings include -et and -ette (piglet, dinette, cigarette, diskette) as well as -ie and -y (doggy, bootie, Bobby, Debbie). However, diminutives are more common in many other languages. Outside of language, diminutive is used for many things, including people ("She noticed a diminutive figure standing shyly by the door"), but often not very seriously ("We were served some rather diminutive rolls").

Synonyms

Noun

• dwarf
• midget
• mite
• peewee
• pygmy
• pigmy
• runt
• scrub
• shrimp
• Tom Thumb

Adjective

• bantam
• dinky
• dwarfish
• fine
• half-pint
• Lilliputian
• little
• pint-size
• pint-sized
• pocket
• pocket-size
• pocket-sized
• puny
• pygmy
• shrimpy
• slight
• small
• smallish
• subnormal
• toylike
• undersized
• undersize

Choose the Right Synonym for diminutive

small, little, diminutive, minute, tiny, miniature mean noticeably below average in size.

small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

Examples of diminutive in a Sentence

Noun

the diminutives “-ette” and “kitchenette”

dik-diks, the diminutives of the antelope family

Adjective

a radio with a diminutive set of speakers

the diminutive suffixes “-ette” and “-ling”

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Yana added, referring to Navalny by a diminutive of his first name. —USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2024

Dimon is a diminutive for Dmitry. —Joseph De Avila, WSJ, 11 Mar. 2022

Riv is a favored diminutive for Riviera Country Club, the venerable Pacific Palisades par-71 layout playing host to this week’s PGA Tour event that will include every golfer in the top 25 except Niemann and Cameron Smith, another LIV defector. —Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2023

And the Suns did lose twice to the Pelicans, whose diminutive Jose Alvarado pestered Paul like a relentless gnat. —Dallas News, 5 May 2022

Three kid contestants battle it out in each episode to make mini dishes that pack real flavor and showcase their flair for the diminutive. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 May 2022

Young Gerd, a common diminutive for Gerhard, found inspiration when the underdog West German team beat Hungary, at the time the world’s greatest team, to win the 1954 World Cup final. —Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021

The blushy pink bonhomie that infuses every aspect of the Little Em’s experience transforms cuteness from a condescending diminutive into something that’s aspirational and inspirational. —Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 24 June 2021

But miraculously, nobody calls Baby Frank by a diminutive. —Molly Young, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2021

Adjective

To Koudelka, his finest pictures, like the image of a powerful white horse bowing its head as if listening to reason from a diminutive squatting Romani man, represent the strokes of serendipity that happened to an observant man who walked many miles. —Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024

Few researchers have examined these diminutive bits of the past, in favor of more charismatic finds. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024

Chisholm, a diminutive 22-year-old who looked much younger than her actual age, had trouble finding work. —Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024

Wolverines resemble diminutive bears but are the largest member of the weasel family, weighing up to 40 pounds. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024

Across the country, the diminutive bag — which retails for $2.99 — is selling out quickly, prompting some stores to reportedly place limits on how many customers can buy. —Emily Heil, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024

Anya Taylor-Joy wore a minuscule Jaeger-LeCoultre 101 Reine watch—a rare diminutive piece on a night replete with big rocks. —Milena Lazazzera, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024

The Chameleon is cool to look at (a diminutive lizard in finery worthy of the Met Gala), and Viola Davis voices her with a dour aristocratic hauteur, but all the character does, really, is to call forth her guards and summon up past villains that Po has defeated. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024

The share of voters who believe the nation is on the right track remains a dismal and diminutive minority at 24 percent. —Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English diminutif, from Medieval Latin diminutivum, alteration of Late Latin deminutivum, from neuter of deminutivus, adjective, from deminutus, past participle of deminuere "to lessen" — more at diminish

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

diminutive

1 of 2 noun

di·​min·​u·​tive də-ˈmin-yət-iv 

1

: a diminutive word, name, or affix

2

: a diminutive object or individual

diminutive

2 of 2 adjective

1

: indicating small size and sometimes the state or quality of being lovable or pitiful

the diminutive suffixes "-ette" and "-ling"

the diminutive noun "duckling"

2

: extremely small : tiny

diminutively adverb

diminutiveness noun