minuscule

1 of 2

adjective

mi·​nus·​cule ˈmi-nə-ˌskyül 

 also  mi-ˈnə-

1

: very small

minuscule amounts

2

: written in or in the size or style of minuscules

minuscule

2 of 2

noun

1

: a lowercase letter

2

a

: one of several ancient and medieval writing styles developed from cursive and having simplified and small forms

b

: a letter in this style

Did you know?

Minuscule comes from the Latin adjective minusculus ("somewhat smaller" or "fairly small"), which in turn pairs the base of minus ("smaller") with -culus, a diminutive suffix (that is, one indicating small size). The minuscule spelling is consistent with the word’s etymology, but that didn’t stop English speakers from adopting the variant spelling miniscule, likely because they associated it with the combining form mini- and such words as minimal and minimum. Usage commentators generally consider the miniscule spelling an error, but it is widely used in reputable and carefully edited publications, and is accepted as a legitimate variant in some dictionaries. (Our own dictionary identifies miniscule as a "disputed spelling variant.")

Synonyms

Adjective

• atomic
• bitsy
• bitty
• infinitesimal
• itty-bitty
• itsy-bitsy
• little bitty
• microminiature
• microscopic
• microscopical
• miniature
• minute
• teensy
• teensy-weensy
• teeny
• teeny-weeny
• tiny
• wee
• weeny
• weensy

Examples of minuscule in a Sentence

Adjective

public health officials have claimed that the chemical is harmless in such minuscule amounts

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The minuscule creature is a baby from the species Neolithodes agassizii, a type of king crab. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

Riggs won reelection by 734 votes — a minuscule margin of victory that was confirmed by two recounts. —Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 8 Jan. 2025

Although Africa is believed to be the continent most vulnerable to climate change, many African leaders want to exploit their resources since their carbon footprint is minuscule relative to industrialized nations. —Ruth MacLean, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024

But recent moon missions and moon analyses indicate that water molecules are spread throughout the moon’s surface, frozen and unfrozen, mixed into the soil, stashed inside volcanic glasses and mineral grains, and concentrated in minuscule granules. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 25 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from French & New Latin; French, "lower case (of a letter)," borrowed from New Latin minusculus, going back to Latin, "somewhat smaller, fairly small," from the base of minor, minus "smaller" (comparative of parvus "small") + -culus, diminutive suffix — more at minor entry 1

Noun

borrowed from French & New Latin; French, borrowed from New Latin minuscula (short for littera minuscula "smaller letter"), from feminine of Latin minusculus "somewhat smaller" — more at minuscule entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

minuscule

adjective

mi·​nus·​cule

ˈmi-nəs-ˌkyül

: very small

minuscule amounts