mini

1 of 3

noun

ˈmi-nē How to pronounce mini (audio)
plural minis
Synonyms of mininext
: something small of its kind: such as
a
: minicar
b
: miniskirt
c
: minicomputer

mini

2 of 3

adjective

1
: small in relation to others of the same kind
2
: of short length or duration : brief

mini-

3 of 3

combining form

: smaller or briefer than usual, normal, or standard
minicourse
minibus

Examples of mini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Similar to last year, the brand is offering a ton of minis from covetable, cult-fave beauty brands like Sunday Riley, Anastasia Beverly Hills, L’Occitane, and more. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 31 Aug. 2026 Display Size And Apple’s History With Styluses The new foldable is predicted to have a display similar in size when it’s unfolded to the original iPad mini, so a Pencil could have been a useful addition. — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Adjective
For a truly unforgettable endeavor, dive into a deep appreciation of the wonders of the underwater world on the Ocean Pearl, the resort’s mini submarine. — Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 Super 8 will be a hit for teens who love sci-fi and scary stories, and may just inspire them to pick up a camera and start making their own mini movies. — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mini

Word History

Etymology

Noun

mini-

Combining form

miniature

First Known Use

Noun

1960, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mini was in 1960

Phrases Containing mini

Rhymes for mini

See All Rhymes for mini

Browse Nearby Words

minhah
mini
mini-
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mini.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mini. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

mini

1 of 2 noun
ˈmin-ē
: something small of its kind: as
a
: miniskirt
b
: minicomputer

mini-

2 of 2 combining form
: very small or short : miniature
minibike
miniskirt
Etymology

Combining form

derived by shortening from miniature

More from Merriam-Webster on mini

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mini

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All