# microscopic

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˌmaɪ.kɹəˈskɑpɪk/ · frequency rank #17,899

## Definitions
1. Of, or relating to microscopes or microscopy; microscopal
2. So small that it can only be seen with the aid of a microscope.
3. Very small; minute
4. Carried out with great attention to detail.
5. Able to see extremely minute objects.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *mey-der.?
Ancient Greek μῑκρός (mīkrós)
Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti
Proto-Hellenic *sképťomai
Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι (sképtomai)
Proto-Indo-European *-ós
Proto-Hellenic *-ós
▲
Ancient Greek -ος (-os)influ.
Ancient Greek -ός (-ós)
Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós)
Proto-Indo-European *-eti
Proto-Indo-European *-eyéti
Proto-Indo-European *-esyéti
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Ancient Greek -έω (-éō)
Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō)
Proto-Indo-European *-yós
Proto-Italic *-ios
Old Latin -ios
Latin -ius
Latin -ium
Latin mīcroscopiumlbor.
Italian microscopiobor.
English microscope
Proto-Indo-European *-kos
Proto-Italic *-kos
Latin -cus
Latin -icuslbor.
Old French -iquebor.
Middle English -ik
English -ic
English microscopic
From microscope + -ic.

## Easily confused with
- **microscopy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/microscopic-vs-microscopy)
- **microscope** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/microscope-vs-microscopic)
- **macroscopic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/macroscopic-vs-microscopic)

## Common misspellings (17)
`imcroscopic`, `mciroscopic`, `miccroscopic`, `micorscopic`, `microcsopic`, `microsccopic`, `microscoipc`, `microscopci`, `microscopicc`, `microscoppic`, `microscpoic`, `microsocpic`, `microsscopic`, `micrroscopic`, `micrsocopic`, `mircoscopic`, `mmicroscopic`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/microscopic