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noun

iota

eye-OH-tuh

Iota (noun) means the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. Example: “Iota is written as a simple vertical stroke in Greek.”

noun
1
The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet.
"Iota is written as a simple vertical stroke in Greek."
2
A very tiny amount; the smallest bit of something.
"There isn't an iota of truth in that rumor."

How to use iota

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA microscopic amount — used mostly in the phrase "not one iota."

Common pairings
not one iota not an iota of

Word forms

iotas plural, IOTAs plural

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_____ is written as a simple vertical stroke in Greek.

Etymology

From Greek iota, the name of the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet — used figuratively for centuries to mean "the tiniest amount," echoing a line from the New Testament about not changing "one iota" of the law.

Origin: Greek

Related words

Rhymes for iota

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Frequently asked questions

What does “iota” mean?

The word “iota” means the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. In plain terms, a microscopic amount — used mostly in the phrase "not one iota.".

How do you pronounce “iota”?

“Iota” is pronounced eye-OH-tuh (/aɪˈoʊtə/ in IPA).

How do you use “iota” in a sentence?

Here is “iota” used in a sentence: “Iota is written as a simple vertical stroke in Greek.”

What part of speech is “iota”?

“Iota” is a noun.

Where does the word “iota” come from?

The word “iota” comes from Greek. From Greek iota, the name of the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet — used figuratively for centuries to mean "the tiniest amount," echoing a line from the New Testament about not changing "one iota" of the law.

How many meanings does “iota” have?

“Iota” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet.

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