1
: a small or insignificant amount or degree : bit
might give him some water and a tad to eatC. T. Walker
2
: a small child
especially : boy
Phrases
a tad
: somewhat, rather
looked a tad bigger than meLarry Hodgson

Examples of tad in a Sentence

there's more than just a tad of hyperbole in the critics' praise for the promising young pianist grandfather never tires of telling us about the days when he was just a tad
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The landing – with the very quick fuel cutoff and short hop of the front end – indicates the center of gravity might be a tad rear-biased towards the pilot – who appears to be around 150 lb (68 kg) at most, if my eyes don't deceive me. Joe Salas july 23, New Atlas, 23 July 2025 The climate is a tad milder than Scotland and these courses are open year-round, but peak season is mid-April to mid-October and very few foreigners visit outside these times, while locals play when weather allows. Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025 Miles Morales will be swinging into theaters a tad later than previously planned. Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025 The customization can also make the game a tad too overcomplicated, a funny contrast to the mindless destruction. PC Magazine, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tad

Word History

Etymology

probably from English dialect, toad, from Middle English tode — more at toad

First Known Use

circa 1877, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tad was circa 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Tad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tad. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.

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