micro
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for micro, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Very small in size, scale, or scope.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use micro
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From the Greek prefix "micro-," meaning "small," which was later clipped off to stand as its own adjective in casual English.
Full origin of micro →Frequently asked questions
What does “micro” mean?
The word “micro” means very small in size, scale, or scope. In plain terms, a word for anything tiny or on a very small scale — used both on its own and as a prefix in words like microwave and microscope.
How do you pronounce “micro”?
“Micro” is pronounced MEYE-kroh (/ˈmaɪ.kɹoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “micro” in a sentence?
Here is “micro” used in a sentence: “The company started with a micro budget and grew from there.”
What part of speech is “micro”?
“Micro” is an adjective.
Where does the word “micro” come from?
The word “micro” comes from Greek. From the Greek prefix "micro-," meaning "small," which was later clipped off to stand as its own adjective in casual English.
Is “micro” a common word?
“Micro” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between micro and macro?
They are opposites: micro means very small in size, scale, or scope, while macro means large-scale or overall. The contrast is common in fields like economics, where microeconomics studies individual households and firms and macroeconomics studies whole economies.
Is micro a standalone word or just a prefix?
Both. As a prefix it forms words like microscope and microchip, but micro also works as an adjective in its own right meaning very small in size, scale, or scope: "a micro apartment", "at a micro level". Dictionaries list this standalone adjective use as standard.
Should words with micro be hyphenated?
Most established micro- compounds are written as one word: microwave, microscope, microclimate, microeconomics. A hyphen appears mainly where the next element begins with a vowel that could cause misreading, as in "micro-organism", which is common in British English, or in new one-off coinages. When micro stands alone as an adjective, no hyphen is used: "a micro flat".