diminutive
🇺🇸 /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/
📖 Definitions
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adjective
Extremely or unusually small in size; tiny.; Of or relating to a diminutive form of a word, expressing smallness, endearment, or contempt.
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noun
A word formed by adding a suffix to a base word to express smallness, endearment, or contempt, such as 'kitchen' from 'cook' or 'duckling' from 'duck'.; A person or thing that is extremely small in stature or size.; In grammar, a suffix or affix that forms diminutive words, such as '-let', '-ling', '-ette', or '-kin'.
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adjective
Serving to diminish or reduce; tending to make smaller or less significant.
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noun
In heraldry, a narrow band or stripe that is a smaller version of an ordinary, such as a bendlet or pallet.
🔗 Details
Word forms
countable
Plural: diminutives
Comparative: more diminutive
Superlative: most diminutive
Collocations
diminutive formdiminutive suffixdiminutive staturediminutive figurediminutive size
Derivatives
diminishdiminutiondiminutivelydiminutiveness
Synonyms
tinyminiaturepetiteminusculesmallwee
Antonyms
enormousgiganticmassivehuge
Commonly confused
diminished
EN: 'Diminutive' means inherently small in size or stature; 'diminished' means reduced or made smaller from a previous state.
diminution
EN: 'Diminution' is the noun meaning the act or process of becoming smaller; 'diminutive' is an adjective meaning very small or a noun referring to a word form expressing smallness.
Spelling tips
EN: Remember 'diminutive' has no extra 'i' before the 't'—it is not *'diminuitive'. The sequence is -n-u-t-i-v-e.
💬 Examples
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The diminutive figure stood barely four feet tall.
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In Spanish, the diminutive suffix '-ito' is added to nouns to indicate smallness or affection.
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'Doggy' is a diminutive of 'dog'.
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The jockey was a diminutive, weighing barely over a hundred pounds.
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The diminutive '-ette' appears in words like 'kitchenette' and 'cigarette'.
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The diminutive effect of the new policy was felt across all departments.
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The coat of arms featured a bendlet, a diminutive of the bend.