mini
noun
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mini
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mini-
mini-a combining form with the meanings “of a small or reduced size in comparison with others of its kind” (minicalculator; minicar; minigun ); “limited in scope, intensity, or duration” (miniboom; minicourse; minirecession ); (of clothing) “short, not reaching the knee” (minidress; miniskirt ).
mini
1 American
[min-ee]
/ ˈmɪn i /
adjective
mini-
2
American
mini
1
British
/ ˈmɪnɪ /
adjective
-
(of a woman's dress, skirt, etc) very short; thigh-length
-
(prenominal) small; miniature
noun
mini-
2
British
combining form
Usage
What does mini- mean? Mini- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “small,” "limited," or "short." It is often used in a variety of everyday and technical terms, especially in fashion. Mini- comes from a shortening of the terms miniature, minimal, or minimum, all expressing small size or a low limit. Minimum comes from Latin minimus, meaning "smallest" or "least." Related to this root is Latin minor, meaning “smaller,” which was borrowed into English as minor, meaning “lesser in size.” Find out more at our entry for each word.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of mini1
Independent use of mini-, or by shortening of words with mini- as initial element
Origin of mini-2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It is on display until October and exhibition curator, Emma Roodhouse, said she had a "mini cry" when the painting was finally placed on the wall.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Because the system was completely isolated, researchers could reconstruct the sequence of events using only information from inside the mini universe itself, without referring to any outside laboratory clock.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026
Or, if you prefer your puzzles bite-sized, try today’s mini.
From Slate ● Jul. 9, 2026
The New York City Soccer Initiative, a collaboration between the city, NYC FC, and corporate sponsors is also building 26 mini soccer pitches at local schools.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
She hugs me, and the sudden movement triggers a mini avalanche in the paper loops that fill the building.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
While 16 teams battle it out in best-of-five elimination series to advance, the top four in each conference play each other in separate mini- tournaments to decide seeding.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 29, 2020
By mini-, we mean one or two rhyming couplets per character — so four to eight lines total.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 5, 2020
An assortment of mini- bolsters the engrossing main story and the fully voiced cast delight.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 6, 2013
JPMorgan also advised Gerdau on its $1.6 billion deal in August to complete the purchase of Tampa, Florida-based Gerdau Ameristeel Corp., the second-largest mini- mill steel producer in North America.
From BusinessWeek ● May 5, 2011
First, I am assigning the Director of the National Security Agency to coordinate all efforts at defending against and mini- mizing the effects of the current crisis.
From Terminal Compromise: computer terrorism: when privacy and freedom are the victims: a novel by Schwartau, Winn
At St. Göran’s, staff brandishing iPad minis closely track patient data while digital systems monitor costs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
Like pleated minis, low-rise jeans and crop tops, “The Simple Life” has made a comeback in the culture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2024
Bake 25 minutes for minis and 35 minutes for full sized.
From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2024
The first generation of electric minis was launched at the Cowley plant in 2019.
From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2023
Fadi looked at his budgeted options—cheeseburger minis with French fries or something called a “bean and cheese burrito.”
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.