mini
noun
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mini
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mini-
mini-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 American
[min-ee]
/ ˈmɪn i /
adjective
mini-
2
American
mini
1
British
/ ˈmɪnɪ /
adjective
-
(of a woman's dress, skirt, etc) very short; thigh-length
-
(prenominal) small; miniature
noun
mini-
2
British
combining form
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.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of mini1
Independent use of mini-, or by shortening of words with mini- as initial element
Origin of mini-2
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.
See Examples For:
Actors dot the lobby, doing vocal warm-ups between mini panic attacks and greeting old friends from past shows.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026
The EU last month proposed a ban on social media for children under 13 while 13- and 14-year-olds can have "mini accounts" that they can access through a parent or guardian's account.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
Osman also said an agreement had been reached to purchase the mini observatory in May.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
From 3-inch Super Soakers to mini Rubik’s Cubes, Alan Dorfman is obsessed with turning classic products into tiny, working realities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
They’re looped into shape and glued together, added to dozens of mini chains all around the room.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
While 16 teams battle it out in best-of-five elimination series to advance, the top four in each conference play each other in separate mini- tournaments to decide seeding.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 29, 2020
By mini-, we mean one or two rhyming couplets per character — so four to eight lines total.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 5, 2020
An assortment of mini- bolsters the engrossing main story and the fully voiced cast delight.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 6, 2013
JPMorgan also advised Gerdau on its $1.6 billion deal in August to complete the purchase of Tampa, Florida-based Gerdau Ameristeel Corp., the second-largest mini- mill steel producer in North America.
From BusinessWeek ● May 5, 2011
They were stuck behind an interminable line of other taxis, limousines, cars and mini- busses that had been stacking for ten minutes.
From Terminal Compromise: computer terrorism: when privacy and freedom are the victims: a novel by Winn Schwartau
At St. Göran’s, staff brandishing iPad minis closely track patient data while digital systems monitor costs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
“With over 68 different minis to collect, every unboxing is a fun surprise!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2024
The first generation of electric minis was launched at the Cowley plant in 2019.
From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2023
For the truly obsessed, one company makes minis in minis featuring beloved candy brands.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 15, 2022
Fadi looked at his budgeted options—cheeseburger minis with French fries or something called a “bean and cheese burrito.”
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
