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minutiae

[ mi-noo-shee-ee, mi-noo-shuh, -shee-uh, -nyoo- ]
/ mɪˈnu ʃiˌi, mɪˈnu ʃə, -ʃi ə, -ˈnyu- /
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See synonyms for: minutiae / minutia on Thesaurus.com

plural noun, singular mi·nu·ti·a [mi-noo-shuh, -shee-uh, -nyoo-]. /mɪˈnu ʃə, -ʃi ə, -ˈnyu-/.
precise details; small or trifling matters: the minutiae of his craft.
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Origin of minutiae

First recorded in 1745–55; from Latin, plural of minūtia “smallness, fineness,” equivalent to minūt(us) “small, tiny” + -ia; see origin at minute2, -ia

usage note for minutiae

Minutia, the singular form meaning “a precise detail; a small or trifling matter” is much less common than the plural. However, this singular form is often used in place of the plural form minutiae , with the same plural meaning and plural verb: She has a great facility for remembering minutia that are relevant to the conversation. And the plural form minutiae is sometimes used as a collective noun with a singular verb: The minutiae of daily life is the stuff that anchors us and gives us a sense of purpose. Both of these usages have been criticized in style guides.

OTHER WORDS FROM minutiae

mi·nu·ti·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use minutiae in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for minutiae

minutiae
/ (mɪˈnjuːʃɪˌiː) /

pl n singular -tia (-ʃɪə)
small, precise, or trifling details

Word Origin for minutiae

C18: pl of Late Latin minūtia smallness, from Latin minūtus minute ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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