There are 125,000 search results on Bing for the misspelling 'Miniscule'. 'Miniscule' ranks in the top 180 of most common errors caught by TripleChecker, with at least 18 websites containing this mistake.¹
'Minuscule' is primarily an adjective, meaning very small or tiny. It can also function as a noun in specific contexts, referring to a lowercase letter in typography. The definition of 'minuscule' is something that is extremely small or insignificant in size or amount.
Minuscule
The word 'minuscule' originates from the Latin word 'minusculus', meaning 'somewhat smaller' or 'smaller'. It is derived from 'minus', meaning 'less'. The term entered English in the late 19th century, primarily referring to small letters in writing.
The word 'minuscule' is pronounced as /ˈmɪnəˌskjuːl/. It sounds like "MIN-uh-skyoohl."
The word 'minuscule' can be used in a sentence like this: "The town's contributions to the charity were minuscule compared to the overall goal." A common caveat for its usage is that it is often mistakenly spelled as 'miniscule,' which is incorrect; the correct spelling emphasizes its connection to the Latin word 'minus,' meaning small. Additionally, it should be used to refer to something very small in size or amount, so context is essential to convey the intended meaning accurately.