Diminutive

/dɪˈmɪn.jʊ.tɪv/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A word that is formed with a diminutive suffix.

In Spanish, 'gatito' is a diminutive of 'gato', meaning 'little cat'.

A person or thing that is notably small.

Despite his diminutive stature, he was a formidable opponent on the soccer field.

adjective

Extremely or unusually small.

The diminutive puppy fit snugly in the palm of her hand.

Denoting a form of a word that indicates small size or expresses a slight degree of something.

In linguistics, the suffix '-ette' can be used to create a diminutive form of a word.

Middle English, from Latin 'diminutivus', from 'diminut-', the past participle of 'diminere' meaning to lessen.

diminutive stature

Refers to a person's small physical height or size.

diminutive form

A grammatical form indicating smallness.

in a diminutive way

In a manner that makes something seem less important or significant.

minuscule

Extremely small; tiny.

compact

Closely and neatly packed together.

petite

Small and slender, often used to describe women or clothing.

Shorty

He's the shorty of the group, but he has a big personality.

Little guy

Come on, little guy, let's see if you can climb that hill.