smidgen

noun

smid·​gen ˈsmi-jən How to pronounce smidgen (audio)
variants or less commonly smidgeon or smidgin or smidge
: a small amount : bit
a smidgen of salt
a smidgen of common sense

Examples of smidgen in a Sentence

I'll just have a smidgen of ice cream. the maid cleaned the house until there wasn't even a smidgen of dust left
Recent Examples on the Web Joe’s home life is again explored, in between (and amid) moments of professional crisis, but with a smidgen more transparency than that which kept her at arm’s length from husband Neal (Annable) and their two daughters in Season 1. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 25 Oct. 2024 Despite the pledge made in 2013 by his successor, Shinzo Abe, to double FDI, as of 2019 the ratio was only a smidgen higher, at 4.4 percent. Richard Katz, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2021 There’s even a smidgen of poignance in the late going, when outright war between the two couples takes the form of a dangerously inebriated vehicular chase on curvy rural roads. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 19 July 2024 Sunday was a red-letter day for airports across the country, the TSA reported, with a record 3 million people filling the security lines — a smidgen higher than the previous record of 2.99 million, which was set on June 23. Ashley Ahn, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for smidgen 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smidgen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of English dialect smitch soiling mark

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smidgen was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near smidgen

Cite this Entry

“Smidgen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smidgen. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

smidgen

noun
smid·​gen
variants also smidgeon or smidgin
ˈsmij-ən
or smidge
: a small amount : bit
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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