munchkin

noun

munch·​kin ˈmənch-ˌkin How to pronounce munchkin (audio)
: a person who is notably small and often endearing

Examples of munchkin in a Sentence

“What's wrong, munchkin?” she asked the toddler.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gender is often ambiguous—or beside the point—with getups ranging from church lady to dance-hall tart to BDSM munchkin. Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026 Get ready for witches, munchkins and even the wizard. Stacey Zable, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026 Look at this adorable little angel munchkin. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2026 Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo‘s musical Wicked explainer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon went viral last year — and now, there’s a version for the munchkins in your life too. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 25 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for munchkin

Word History

Etymology

the Munchkins, diminutive creatures in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank Baum

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of munchkin was in 1972

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Munchkin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/munchkin. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

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