minutia

Definition

A minor detail, often of negligible importance.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin minutia, from minūtus (“small, little”), from minuō (“make smaller”).

Example Sentences

• "They spent all their time on minutiae, never making real progress."
• "I think I can ſee the preciſe and diſtinguiſhing marks of national characters more in theſe nonſenſical minutiæ, than in the moſt important matters of ſtate ; where great men of all nations talk and ſtalk ſo much alike, that I would not give ninepence to chuſe amongſt them."