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

Last season saw the 27-year-old continue his steady production at the plate, lowering his already impressive strikeout rate to a minuscule 10.3 percent. —Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025

Such actions would make the 2018 trade war look minuscule. —Felix Salmon, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025

That's minuscule on an everyday scale, but on the microscopic scale of nuclear physics that is a very large amount indeed. —David Szondy, New Atlas, 15 Jan. 2025

The minuscule particles can also get into the bloodstream and cause inflammation, aggravating diabetes, chronic heart disease and other health conditions. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025

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