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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

Words nearby minutiae

Minuteman, minute mark, Minutemen, minutes, minute steak, minutiae, minx, Minya, Minyades, minyan, Minyas
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to minutiae

trivia, incidental, trifle, triviality

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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