mini

¹ American  

[min-ee] / ˈmɪn i /

noun

1. miniskirt.

2. a minicomputer.

3. anything of a small, reduced, or miniature size.

---

adjective

1. of the length of a miniskirt.

mini- ² American  

1. a combining form with the meanings “of a small or reduced size in comparison with others of its kind” (minicalculator; minicar; minigun ); “limited in scope, intensity, or duration” (miniboom; minicourse; minirecession ); (of clothing) “short, not reaching the knee” (minidress; miniskirt ).

---

mini ¹ British  

/ ˈmɪnɪ /

adjective

1. (of a woman's dress, skirt, etc) very short; thigh-length

2. (prenominal) small; miniature

---

noun

1. something very small of its kind, esp a small car or a miniskirt

mini- ² British  

combining form

1. smaller or shorter than the standard size

   minibus

   miniskirt

---

Usage

What does mini- mean? Mini- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “small,” "limited," or "short." It is often used in a variety of everyday and technical terms, especially in fashion.Mini- comes from a shortening of the terms miniature, minimal, or minimum, all expressing small size or a low limit. Minimum comes from Latin minimus, meaning "smallest" or "least." Related to this root is Latin minor, meaning “smaller,” which was borrowed into English as minor, meaning “lesser in size.” Find out more at our entry for each word.

Etymology

Origin of mini¹

Independent use of mini-, or by shortening of words with mini- as initial element

Origin of mini-²

By shortening of miniature, minimal, or minimum

Example Sentences

The reopening marks a significant moment in the mini boom that the artificial-intelligence sector is driving across Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa and Illinois.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was not yet 7 a.m. on my first day in a field of mini watermelons, the green fruit stretched out as far as the eye could see.

From Los Angeles Times

Electrical discharges nicknamed "mini lightning" were picked up from audio and electromagnetic recordings made by the rover's SuperCam instrument.

From BBC

The gap between implied volatility and realized volatility, a measure of actual moves over the past week, was at the widest level since the 2022 mini budget at the time of writing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Try an escape room, whale watching, rock climbing, mini golf, seeing a show and more.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cramped
• limited
• meager
• microscopic
• miniature
• minuscule
• modest
• narrow
• paltry
• poor
• short
• slight
• small-scale
• young