isle
Americannoun
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a small island.
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any island.
verb (used with object)
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to make into or as if into an isle.
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to place on or as if on an isle.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of isle
1250–1300; Middle English i ( s ) le < Old French < Latin īnsula
Explanation
An isle is a small island. The Isle of Capri, off the coast of Italy, is one of the most famous isles in the world. There is no clear agreement on what makes an island an isle. Some people say it's simply a matter of taste: isle sounds more poetic and romantic. Actually, there's no precise definition of island either, other than it's a piece of land surrounded by water and smaller than a continent. A good way to remember that an isle is a small island is that the word isle is smaller than island: this is a little word for a little thing.
Vocabulary lists containing isle
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.
The police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, said the ruling "represents an important acknowledgement of the seriousness and impact of these truly appalling crimes".
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
A series of herring gulls have been found doused in oil in the west of the Isle of Man, prompting concerns from conservationists.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
A second Harland & Wolff fabrication site at Arnish, on the Isle of Lewis, could also play a role, although it seems currently focused on the renewables sector.
From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026
More than 30,000 trips by campervans and motorhomes are made to the Scottish Highlands every year - with many of them touring the Isle of Skye.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
They’d sent missions to the Wandering Isle and Novyi Zem because Ravka needed soldiers.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
