adjective
dainty
DAYN-tee
Dainty (adjective) means Delicate, small, and pretty in an elegant way. Example: “She wore dainty lace gloves to the wedding.”
adjective
1
Delicate, small, and pretty in an elegant way.
"She wore dainty lace gloves to the wedding."
"The cake was decorated with dainty sugar flowers."
2
Fussy or overly particular, especially about food.
"He's far too dainty to eat street food."
noun
1
A small, delicious treat or delicacy.
"The party spread was full of little dainties like mini quiches and pastries."
How to use dainty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSmall, delicate, and elegant — or, for a person, fussy about what they'll eat or touch.
Common mistake
As a noun it means a nice little treat, not just "something small" in general.
Common pairings
a dainty little
dainty morsel
too dainty for
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Word forms
- Plural
- dainties
- Comparative
- daintier
- Superlative
- daintiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wore _____ lace gloves to the wedding.
Etymology
From Old French deintié, going back to Latin dignitatem — the same root that gives us "dignity."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dainty
See all rhymes for dainty →Frequently asked questions
What does “dainty” mean?
The word “dainty” means delicate, small, and pretty in an elegant way. In plain terms, small, delicate, and elegant — or, for a person, fussy about what they'll eat or touch.
How do you pronounce “dainty”?
“Dainty” is pronounced DAYN-tee (/ˈdeɪnti/ in IPA).
How do you use “dainty” in a sentence?
Here is “dainty” used in a sentence: “She wore dainty lace gloves to the wedding.”
What part of speech is “dainty”?
Depending on how it is used, “dainty” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “dainty” come from?
The word “dainty” comes from Latin. From Old French deintié, going back to Latin dignitatem — the same root that gives us "dignity.".
How many meanings does “dainty” have?
“Dainty” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: delicate, small, and pretty in an elegant way.
