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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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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
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, adjectiveWords 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
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
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