infinitesimal
|in-fi-ni-tes-i-mal|
🇺🇸
/ˌɪn.fə.nəˈtɛs.əməl/
🇬🇧
/ˌɪn.fɪ.nɪˈtes.ɪ.məl/
extremely tiny
Etymology
'infinitesimal' originates from French, specifically the word 'infinitésimal' (17th century), formed from Latin 'infinitus' meaning 'not limited' with a Latin-derived suffix used to form fractional/ordinal senses.
'infinitesimal' changed from French 'infinitésimal' and Medieval/Modern Latin forms (e.g. 'infinitesimalis') into the modern English 'infinitesimal' in the 17th–18th centuries.
Initially used in mathematical contexts to denote an indefinitely small quantity; over time it gained a broader general sense of 'extremely small' in everyday language.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a quantity that is infinitely or extremely small; in calculus, often an indefinitely small increment.
In calculus, students learn to work with infinitesimals.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
extremely small; immeasurably or incalculably tiny.
The difference between the two measurements was infinitesimal.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
(technical) Relating to or denoting an indefinitely small quantity (used in mathematics and physics).
Infinitesimal adjustments to the instrument can improve accuracy.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/11 21:55