diminutive

/dəˈmɪnjədɪv/

/dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/

Other forms: diminutives; diminutively

Diminutive means small. A diminutive person is short and small. A diminutive word is a "cute" version of a word or name: for example, "duckling" is a diminutive of "duck" and Billy is a diminutive form of the name William.

A diminutive name or word is formed from another by the addition of a suffix expressing smallness in size: a booklet is a small book, and a dinette is a small version of a dining set. The adjective diminutive descends from Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin dīminūtīvus, from Latin dēminuere, "to lessen."

Definitions of diminutive

1. adjective

   very small
   “diminutive in stature”

   synonyms: bantam, flyspeck, lilliputian, midget, petite, tiny

   little, small

   limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
2. noun

   a word that is formed with a suffix (such as -let or -kin) to indicate smallness
   type of:

   word

   a unit of language that native speakers can identify