diminutive

American  

[dih-min-yuh-tiv] / dɪˈmɪn jə tɪv /

adjective

1. small; little; tiny.

   a diminutive building for a model-train layout.

2. Grammar. pertaining to or productive of a form denoting smallness, familiarity, affection, or triviality, as the suffix -let, in droplet from drop.

---

noun

• diminutives
  plural

1. a small thing or person.

2. Grammar. a diminutive element or formation.

3. Heraldry. a charge, as an ordinary, smaller in length or breadth than the usual.

diminutive British  

/ dɪˈmɪnjʊtɪv /

adjective

1. very small; tiny

2. grammar

   1. denoting an affix added to a word to convey the meaning small or unimportant or to express affection, as for example the suffix -ette in French

   2. denoting a word formed by the addition of a diminutive affix

---

noun

1. grammar a diminutive word or affix

2. a tiny person or thing

Synonym Usage

See little.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• diminutiveness
  noun
• diminutival
  adjective
• diminutively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• diminutives
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of diminutive

First recorded before 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin dīminūtīvus, equivalent to Latin dīminūt(us) “lessened” (for dēminūtus ) + -īvus adjective suffix; see diminution, -ive

---

Explanation

Diminutive means small. A diminutive person is short and small. A diminutive word is a "cute" version of a word or name: for example, "duckling" is a diminutive of "duck" and Billy is a diminutive form of the name William. A diminutive name or word is formed from another by the addition of a suffix expressing smallness in size: a booklet is a small book, and a dinette is a small version of a dining set. The adjective diminutive descends from Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin dīminūtīvus, from Latin dēminuere, "to lessen."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

diminutive diminutives

Its production chief, Harry Cohn, saw promise in the diminutive man asking for a directing job, and his hunch paid off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

Homo floresiensis, the diminutive “hobbit” species, was present on Flores when modern humans arrived.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026

While Herman was once known only for his massive canvases, today he has learned to appreciate the diminutive in his life and his work.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

The one certainty, despite her absence, was always England's diminutive right-hander.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

A diminutive captain cutting an unstalwart figure in his flight suit, walked to the colonel’s desk and saluted.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Miden is a fictional island where “there are no longer any diminutives or pet names,” Raimo writes.

From New York Times ● Oct. 1, 2019

There is no mother’s care for the hatchlings, which will emerge as dark-toned diminutives in about 50 days, facing astronomical odds against survival.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2018

But there’s no question the current setup treats them as diminutives, even while celebrating their “stories.”

From Washington Post ● Aug. 6, 2016

But again, Harry is part of a more general trend of parents formally registering their offspring with names that used to be regarded as diminutives.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2013

After her defiance of the overseer, they called her Harriet, because the pet names, the diminutives, were no longer fitting for a girl who had displayed such courage.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• little
• mini
• miniature
• minuscule
• minute
• petite
• small
• tiny

---