petite
Americanadjective
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relating to or being a woman who is short and has a small, trim figure; diminutive: The sash accentuates her petite waist.
She is a petite brunette.
The sash accentuates her petite waist.
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I usually buy frozen petite peas.
Traveling by air with your petite pooch or kitty has never been easier!
noun
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a category of clothing sized for women or girls of less than average height.
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a garment in such a size.
The petites are on that rack.
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a woman or girl who wears clothing of such a size.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of petite
First recorded in 1760–70; from French; feminine of petit
Explanation
If something is petite, it's tiny. Your mom might be so petite that she needs to sit on a telephone book when she drives the car. The adjective petite is used to describe a small woman. When you call someone petite, it's usually meant as a compliment — implying that she is dainty and adorable. Many clothing stores offer petite sizes for women who are short. The word petite is the feminine form of little in French, and sometime in the 1700s it became used frequently in English literature to describe those who are small in stature.
Vocabulary lists containing petite
It's the Little Things: Synonyms for "Small"
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The Help
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Warriors Don't Cry (Abridged)
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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.
The “Charlie’s Angels” star proceeded to pose next to the petite kitchen, which comes complete with a stove and sink.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026
The event’s official app will eventually start sending notifications reminding fans to stay hydrated and to seek medical attention if needed, but the water remains $4 and the free cups remain petite.
From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026
The privacy policy it puts forth does have the benefit of transparency, but ultimately, it’s just a list of what Avast collects, with only a petite section that lists what it doesn’t collect.
From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2026
In the middle of the two-story space, May’s petite cafe sits tucked beneath the concrete staircase that leads to a terrace, the ideal place for cooling off mid shopping spree.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026
Mackenzie looked like a Disney princess: She was petite and sweet; she looked like someone who would walk around with a halo of cheerful birds singing over her head.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
Definitions 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.
