mini

1 of 3

noun

ˈmi-nē 

plural minis

: something small of its kind: such as

a

: minicar

b

: miniskirt

c

: minicomputer

mini

2 of 3

adjective

1

: small in relation to others of the same kind

2

: of short length or duration : brief

mini-

3 of 3

combining form

: smaller or briefer than usual, normal, or standard

minicourse

minibus

Examples of mini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Roberts signed two checks to himself totaling about $2,200 for two iPads in the course of 10 months, records show, after purchasing an iPad mini with union funds two years before that, according to an email reviewed by USA TODAY. —Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 29 May 2025

That includes the iPad (11th Gen), iPad mini (2024), the two iPad Pro (2024) models, and the most recent two generations of iPad Air, the iPad Air (2025) and the 2024 model. —James Peckham, PC Magazine, 28 May 2025

Adjective

Kylie Kelce has a little mini me in her second youngest daughter, 2-year-old Bennett. —Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025

The regular size McFlurry weighs in with a total of 460 calories; the mini size at 280 calories. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 6 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

mini-

Combining form

miniature

First Known Use

Noun

1960, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mini

• mini-mart
• mini pill
• mini-stroke

Rhymes for mini

• finny
• ginny
• jinny
• minnie
• ninny
• pinnae
• skinny
• spinney
• swinney
• tinny
• whinny
• winnie

Kids Definition

mini

1 of 2 noun

ˈmin-ē

: something small of its kind: as

a

: miniskirt

b

: minicomputer

mini-

2 of 2 combining form

: very small or short : miniature

minibike

miniskirt

Etymology

Combining form

derived by shortening from miniature