little office: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral, slightly informal for the physical space meaning; formal/religious for the historical Catholic meaning.
Quick answer
What does “little office” mean?
A small or subsidiary office, typically a physical workspace with limited staff or scope.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small or subsidiary office, typically a physical workspace with limited staff or scope.
Can refer to a modest workplace within a home, a branch with reduced functions, or metaphorically to a small, personal workspace. Historically in Catholicism, a series of short prayers recited by the laity (the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar, though British English might use 'small office' slightly more often. The term is equally understood.
Connotations
Similar connotations of informality and limited scale in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in both; it's a descriptive phrase rather than a high-frequency lexical unit.
Grammar
How to Use “little office” in a Sentence
[subject] works from/out of a little office[subject] set up a little office in [location]the little office of [person/function]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “little office” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She appreciated her little-office setup in the garden.
American English
- He has a great little-office space above the garage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a small branch, startup workspace, or remote subsidiary location.
Academic
Rare; might describe a researcher's small administrative space.
Everyday
Commonly used to describe a home office, a freelancer's workspace, or a small local business premises.
Technical
Not a technical term in business or computing, though 'SOHO' (Small Office/Home Office) is related.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “little office”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “little office”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “little office”
- Using 'little office' in formal corporate writing where 'branch office' or 'satellite office' is more appropriate. Confusing it with the historical religious term in modern contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a descriptive, somewhat informal phrase. Formal equivalents include 'branch office', 'satellite office', or 'SOHO' (Small Office/Home Office).
Not in modern usage. It primarily refers to a physical space. Historically, 'Little Office' could refer to a specific set of prayers.
'Small office' is neutral and descriptive. 'Little office' often carries a more subjective, personal, or cosy connotation, implying affection or modesty.
Not as a standard term. The related acronym 'SOHO' (Small Office/Home Office) is common in networking and hardware marketing.
A small or subsidiary office, typically a physical workspace with limited staff or scope.
Little office: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɪtl̩ ˈɒfɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɪtl̩ ˈɔːfɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A little office of one's own.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LITTLE (small) OFFICE (workplace) - like a tiny version of a big corporate workplace.
Conceptual Metaphor
OFFICE IS A CONTAINER (for work); SMALL IS MODEST/INFORMAL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'little office' LEAST likely to be used?