What does "minuscule" mean?

“Minuscule” means very small. It describes something so tiny in size or amount that it may be difficult to notice, measure, or distinguish.

The word comes from the Latin minusculus, meaning “rather small” or “somewhat less,” from minus, meaning “less.” In modern English it can describe physical objects, such as a minuscule insect, as well as abstract quantities, such as a minuscule difference or minuscule chance.

Readers sometimes confuse minuscule with “miniscule,” but minuscule is the standard spelling for the adjective. The word also has a specialized historical meaning: minuscule refers to a small-letter handwriting style used in medieval manuscripts, including Carolingian minuscule and Greek minuscule. In that context, it relates to letter form rather than simply size.