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Definition of islet

islet

/ˈaɪ.lɪt/
is · let
Plural:islets
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islet Lexical Profile

islet Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A very small island, typically uninhabited and found in a river, lake, or coastal ocean water.

Example

"We paddled our kayaks out to a rocky islet to observe the nesting seabirds."

2

A structurally distinct portion of tissue within an organ, most notably referring to the hormone-producing clusters in the pancreas known as the islets of Langerhans.

Example

"Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing islets in the pancreas."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for islet

• Nearby Words

island pit viper
islander
isle
islet
ism
iso
isolate

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French islette, a diminutive form of isle (meaning 'island'), deriving ultimately from the Latin word insula.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Islet. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/islet
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