stiletto

American  

[sti-let-oh] / stɪˈlɛt oʊ /

noun

plural

stilettos, stilettoes

1. a short dagger with a blade that is thick in proportion to its width.

2. a pointed instrument for making eyelet holes in needlework.

3.  spike heel.  stiletto heel.

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verb (used with object)

stilettoed, stilettoing

1. to stab or kill with a stiletto.

stiletto British  

/ stɪˈlɛtəʊ /

noun

1. a small dagger with a slender tapered blade

2. a sharply pointed tool used to make holes in leather, cloth, etc

3. Also called: spike heel.   stiletto heel.  a very high heel on a woman's shoe, tapering to a very narrow tip

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verb

1. (tr) to stab with a stiletto

Other Word Forms

• stilettolike adjective

Etymology

Origin of stiletto

First recorded in 1605–15; from Italian, equivalent to stil(o) “dagger” (from Latin stilus stylus ) + -etto -ette

Example Sentences

One studio manager recalled that her habit of striding across the studio in stiletto heels damaged the floor but no-one had the courage to tell her.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2025

Yet unlike the doll of last year’s blockbuster movie, the next pop-culture star who’s about to re-emerge isn’t a statuesque blonde in stiletto heels.

From New York Times • Apr. 10, 2024

Their Trinity zippered catsuit is one of my most favorite pieces I’ve ever had — I have worn it on a 16-hour flight with slippers and to a party paired with vintage Prada stiletto boots.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2023

“Silence,” an installation by French Algerian artist Zoulikha Bouabdellah that displays 30 pairs of stiletto heels on the same number of Islamic prayer rugs, dominates the center of a room.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 17, 2023

“Bring me my slippers, ” said Samantha, “and take away these stiletto heels!”

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

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