miniature

American  

[min-ee-uh-cher, -choor, min-uh-cher] / ˈmɪn i ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər, ˈmɪn ə tʃər /

noun

1. a representation or image of something on a small or reduced scale.

2. a greatly reduced or abridged form or copy.

3. a very small painting, especially a portrait, on ivory, vellum, or the like.

4. the art of executing such a painting.

5. an illumination in an illuminated manuscript or book.

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adjective

1. being, on, or represented on a small scale; reduced.

   Synonyms:

   minuscule, tiny, diminutive, microscopic, minute

idioms

1. in miniature, in a reduced size; on a small scale.

   The zoo exhibition offered a jungle in miniature.

miniature British  

/ ˈmɪnɪtʃə /

noun

1. a model, copy, or similar representation on a very small scale

2. anything that is very small of its kind

3. a very small painting, esp a portrait, showing fine detail on ivory or vellum

4. a very small bottle of whisky or other spirits, which can hold 50 millilitres

5. an illuminated letter or other decoration in a manuscript

6. on a small scale

   games are real life in miniature

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adjective

1. greatly reduced in size

2. on a small scale; minute

Other Word Forms

• superminiature adjective

Etymology

Origin of miniature

1580–90; < Italian miniatura miniature painting < Medieval Latin miniātūra, equivalent to miniāt ( us ) ( miniate ) + -ūra -ure; sense development perhaps influenced by Latin base min- ( mini-, minor )

Example Sentences

He has written about them three decades later and, at only 150 pages, “A Scandal in Königsberg” is a book of miniature perfection.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Margaret O’Brien’s miniature “juvenile” Oscar for “Meet Me in St. Louis” was taken by a housekeeper who offered to polish it but never returned.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

Harris said, holding his certificate and a miniature Ghana flag.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

Lydia, who was in the same category with their 11-year-old miniature schnauzer Hope, did not receive a placing.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

But by then I was inside the miniature cast-iron royal coach.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• mini
• pint-sized
• reduced
• scaled-down
• small
• small-scale
• tiny