diminution
Americannoun
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the act, fact, or process of diminishing; lessening; reduction.
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Music. the repetition or imitation of a subject or theme in notes of shorter duration than those first used.
noun
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reduction; decrease
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music the presentation of the subject of a fugue, etc, in which the note values are reduced in length Compare augmentation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of diminution
1275–1325; Middle English diminucion < Anglo-French diminuciun < Latin dīminūtiōn- (stem of dīminūtiō ), for dēminūtiōn- (stem of dēminūtiō ) (by influence of dīmunuere; see diminish), equivalent to dēminūt ( us ) (past participle of dēminuere, equivalent to dē- de- + minuere to lessen) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
When you "dim" a light, you reduce the brightness coming from the bulb. Diminution (not actually related to "dim") is the lessening of something to a smaller size or lower status, as a diminution of your "superpowers" when you wake up from a dream. Pronouncing diminution (dim-ih-NYOO-shun) only seems to get harder the more you repeat it, but memorizing the meaning and sounds with "diminish" and "ammunition" helps. If you take away the firepower in a battle, for example, you diminish the ammunition, causing a diminution of the army's power. A diminution is a decrease of size, time, or esteem. Does the word still sound funny? Let's try a diminution, or reduction, of the number of times we say it — starting now.
Vocabulary lists containing diminution
1984
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Music - Middle School
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George Washington's Farewell Address (1796)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Accounting for asset write-downs, corporate failures and diminution of wealth, the dot-com and subprime losses are estimated at around $5-6 trillion and perhaps $15-20 trillion, respectively.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
“That would still be the case if there was some diminution in this number over time because of Google’s strategy,” they wrote.
From Barron's ● Jan. 1, 2026
"I have found that there is a relevant diminution of right in each of the areas relied upon by the applicants," he said.
From BBC ● May 13, 2024
I can make no sense of my life without design being central to it, and it never feels to me like a distraction, waste of time or diminution of gravitas.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 21, 2023
Any diminution in magnetism is likely to be bad news, because magnetism, apart from holding notes to refrigerators and keeping our compasses pointing the right way, plays a vital role in keeping us alive.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
