Standard Lemma guide

razor-thin

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Extremely fine; so thin as to be almost invisible.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: literally, not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: paper-thin

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

A very small difference, or advantage, when comparing two items.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, not-comparable

Examples

  • The Socialists have a razor-thin majority.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

First use appears c. 1909, in the Washington Post.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: hauchdünn — extremely fine; so thin as to be almost invisible
  • Polish: cieniutki — extremely fine; so thin as to be almost invisible
  • Russian: тончайший (tončajšij) — extremely fine; so thin as to be almost invisible
  • German: hauchdünn — a very small difference, or advantage, when comparing two items
  • Polish: malutki — a very small difference, or advantage, when comparing two items
  • Polish: maleńki — a very small difference, or advantage, when comparing two items