pygmy

noun

pyg·​my ˈpig-mē 

variants or less commonly pigmy

plural pygmies also pigmies

1

often capitalized : any of a race of dwarfs described by ancient Greek authors

2

capitalized : any of a small people of equatorial Africa ranging under five feet (1.5 meters) in height

3

a(1)

: an unusually small person

(2)

: an insignificant or unimpressive person

an intellectual pygmy

b

: something very small of its kind

pygmy adjective

Synonyms

• diminutive
• dwarf
• midget
• mite
• peewee
• runt
• scrub
• shrimp
• Tom Thumb

Examples of pygmy in a Sentence

hummingbirds may be the pygmies of the avian world, but what they lack in size they make up for in beauty

regrettably, most of the candidates for the party's nomination that year were political pygmies

Recent Examples on the Web

Rascal Voyages specializes in curating these one-of-a-kind moments, from bespoke birdwatching itineraries to private culinary adventures and even helping guests track pygmy seahorses. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

From Taylor and Travis to a cute baby pygmy hippo to look-alike contests, here are a dozen phenoms that made the past 12 months a little more interesting (and, in one case, very mindful, very demure). —Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2024

Events covered in this essay (the last of a three-part photo summary of the year) include Hurricanes Helene and Milton striking southeastern United States, a famous pygmy hippo named Moo Deng, the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and much more. —Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024

In this week’s edition: Two teens, fentanyl, and the systems that failed them The private lives of pygmy seahorses An iconic national park during peak (idiot) tourist season The perseverance of a beginning beekeeper The attorney taking on doggy death row cases 1. —Longreads, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pigmei, from Latin pygmaeus of a pygmy, dwarfish, from Greek pygmaios, from pygmē fist, measure of length — more at pungent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pygmy

• pygmy chimpanzee
• pygmy hippopotamus

Kids Definition

pygmy

noun

pyg·​my ˈpig-mē 

plural pygmies

1

capitalized : any of a small people of equatorial Africa ranging under five feet (1.5 meters) in height

2

: a person or thing very small for its kind

pygmy adjective

Etymology

Middle English pigmei "pygmy, dwarf," from Latin pygmaeus (noun and adjective) "pygmy, dwarfish," from Greek pygmaios (same meaning), literally, "one no longer than the forearm," from pygmē "fist, measure of length from the elbow to the knuckles"

Word Origin

In ancient Greek the word pygmē was used to mean "a measure of length from the elbow to the knuckles." It also came to refer to the fist. From this word Greek writers formed the word pygmaios for "a tiny person no longer than the forearm." They were assumed to be writing about imaginary figures, not real people. Later, this Greek word was taken into Latin as pygmaeus, meaning "dwarf." From Latin pygmaeus English formed the word pygmy. In the 19th century this word was applied to a member of a race of small people found living in Africa.

Medical Definition

pygmy

noun

pyg·​my

variants also pigmy

ˈpig-mē 

plural pygmies also pigmies

1

capitalized : any of a small people of equatorial Africa ranging under five feet (1.5 meters) in height

2

: a relatively short or small individual : dwarf

pygmy adjective