dwarfism

noun

dwarf·​ism ˈdwȯr-ˌfi-zəm 

: a condition of stunted growth

especially : a condition (such as achondroplasia) of people and animals marked by unusually small size or short stature

Examples of dwarfism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Good American Family stars Ellen Pompeo as Kristine Barnett and revisits allegations that Natalia, an orphan from Ukraine with a rare form of dwarfism, was actually an adult masquerading as a child. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025

As of 2025, Natalia Grace is 22 years old and lives in upstate New York with Nicole and Vince DePaul, who attempted to adopt Natalia in 2009 and have a form of dwarfism. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 26 Mar. 2025

The series follows real-life Indiana couple Kristine and Michael Barnett, who adopted Natalia, a young Ukrainian girl with a rare form of dwarfism. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Snow White has also been called out by Peter Dinklage, who was born with a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia. —Sharareh Drury, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dwarfism

• anthropomorphism
• homeomorphism
• automorphism
• homomorphism
• isomorphism
• metamorphism
• dimorphism

Medical Definition

dwarfism

noun

dwarf·​ism ˈdwȯr-ˌfiz-əm 

: a condition of stunted growth

especially : a condition (as achondroplasia) marked by unusually small size or short stature