mini

The word “mini” means very small; a miniature version of something. In plain terms, small or miniature; also a specific brand of small car.

“Mini” is pronounced MIHN-ee (/ˈmɪn.i/ in IPA).

Here is “mini” used in a sentence: “She bought a mini version of the cake for the tasting.”

Depending on how it is used, “mini” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “mini” comes from Latin. Shortened from words built with the prefix "mini-," itself from Latin minimus, "smallest.".

“Mini” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Mini” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very small; a miniature version of something.

Both mean small, but they mark different degrees. Mini means smaller than the standard version — noticeably compact but still normal in kind, like a mini fridge. Micro means extremely small, far tinier than mini, often at a scale that is hard to see, like a microchip. Micro is the more extreme of the two.

The prefix 'mini-' means small or miniature, and it attaches to other words to create a smaller version of them. It gives us everyday terms like miniskirt, minibus, minibar, mini-series and mini-break. Short for 'miniature,' it has become one of the most productive size prefixes in modern English.

The opposite depends on context, but common contrasts include maxi, mega, giant, jumbo and full-size. A miniskirt contrasts with a maxi skirt, a mini portion with a mega or jumbo one, and a mini version of a product with its full-size original. All signal large where mini signals small.

The word appears constantly in compounds: a miniskirt, a minivan, a mini fridge, a mini golf course or a mini version of a phone. In each case 'mini' marks a smaller, more compact form of a familiar full-size thing, whether an object, a garment or an activity.