The everyday petite meaning is small and slim in a neat, delicate way. English speakers mostly use it for women (a petite woman with a big laugh) and for small, dainty things such as a petite cafe table or a petite portion of dessert.
It also has a precise job in fashion. Petite clothing is cut for shorter frames, not just made smaller, so sleeves, hems and the distance from shoulder to waist are all adjusted. That is why someone of average weight can still shop in the petite section.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Small and slender; delicately builtPart of speech
Adjective; also a noun for a clothing sizePronunciation
puh-TEETOrigin
French petite, the feminine form of petit (small)Opposite
tall, large, statuesque, sturdyClose words
small, slight, dainty, diminutiveRegister
Neutral to polite; often used as a compliment
Two ways to read the petite meaning
- Body or build. A petite person is short and lightly framed. The word suggests neatness and proportion, so it usually lands as a kind or flattering description rather than a blunt one like tiny.
- Size of things. Restaurants, hotels and shops use petite for a smaller version: a petite steak cut, a petite suite, petite earrings. Here it signals small and refined, not cheap.
Asked to define petite quickly, a teacher might say: small in an attractive or carefully sized way. If something is small in a disappointing way, people choose a different word.
How petite clothing sizes work
In the US and many other markets, petite sizing is generally meant for women about 5 feet 4 inches (around 163 cm) or shorter. Labels often add a P to the number, so a size 8P is an 8 with a petite cut. Compared with a regular size, a petite garment typically has:
- shorter sleeves and trouser legs
- a higher waistline and shorter torso length
- narrower shoulders and smaller collars
- pockets and buttons placed a little higher
Height is the main test, but body proportion matters too. Some shoppers over that height have a short torso and find petite tops fit better. Exact measurements vary by brand and country, so the size chart is always worth a look.
Petite in example sentences
- The jacket swamped her shoulders until she tried the petite version.
- Our flat has a petite balcony, just room for two chairs and a basil plant.
- He ordered the petite dessert because he had already eaten too much bread.
- Being petite, she often has to ask strangers to reach the top shelf at the supermarket.
- The bride chose petite pearl studs rather than drop earrings.
Petite or petit: the spelling question
In French, adjectives change with gender. Petit is the masculine form and petite the feminine. English kept mostly the feminine form as an everyday word, and that helps explain its strong link with women. The masculine survives in fixed borrowings: a petit four is a small fancy cake, and petit bourgeois describes the lower middle class.
English also turned the old French word into petty, which once meant small and now usually means small minded or trivial. So the same root gave English one polite word and one insulting one.
Can petite describe men?
It can, but it sounds unusual. Men's clothing uses labels such as short rather than petite, and people describing a small man more often say slight, slim or not very tall. Using petite for a man can sound playful or even teasing, so it is safest in clothing contexts or when the person uses the word for himself. In general, it is polite to avoid commenting on anyone's body unless the conversation calls for it.
Petite compared with close words
| Word | Shade of meaning |
|---|---|
| Petite | Small and well proportioned; flattering |
| Tiny | Extremely small; can sound cute or a bit blunt |
| Slight | Thin and light, sometimes suggesting fragile |
| Diminutive | Very small; formal and often used in writing |
| Compact | Small but solid and efficient; used for cars, kitchens, people |
The opposite end includes tall, statuesque (tall and impressive) and sturdy. For more words that describe people, visit our people and personality words, or try the broader everyday vocabulary list.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce petite?
Say puh-TEET, putting the weight on TEET. The opening vowel is a soft uh sound, and the final e is silent.
What height counts as petite?
For clothing, petite usually means about 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) or under. Brands set their own charts, so a quick look at measurements is wiser than guessing.
Is calling someone petite a compliment?
Usually yes, because it suggests neat and delicate rather than simply small. Still, some people dislike any remark about their size, so context and tone matter.
Does petite mean thin?
Not exactly. Petite is mainly about short height and small frame. A petite person may be slim or curvy; clothing ranges even offer petite plus sizes.
What is the difference between petite and small?
Small is a general size word for anything. Petite adds a sense of delicacy and, in shops, refers to a particular cut for shorter bodies rather than a smaller width.
Can petite be a noun?
Yes, informally. Shoppers say a store has good petites, meaning clothes in petite sizes. In most other uses it stays an adjective.