pygmy

pyg·my

noun \ˈpig-mē\

plural pygmies also pigmies

Definition of PYGMY

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

Variants of PYGMY

pyg·my also pig·my \ˈpig-mē\

Examples of PYGMY

1. <hummingbirds may be the pygmies of the avian world, but what they lack in size they make up for in beauty>
2. <regrettably, most of the candidates for the party's nomination that year were political pygmies>

Origin of PYGMY

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

Related to PYGMY

Synonyms: diminutive, midget, mite, peewee, dwarf (also pigmy), runt, scrub, shrimp, Tom Thumb

Antonyms: behemoth, colossus, giant, jumbo, leviathan, mammoth, monster, titan

Related Words: nubbin; mini, miniature; bantam; homunculus, hop-o'-my-thumb, manikin (also mannikin); half-pint

Near Antonyms: whale, whopper

see all synonyms and antonyms

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