Walter Mitty
noun
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The original "Walter Mitty" was created by humorist James Thurber, who wrote the famous story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." In Walter's real life, he is a reticent, henpecked proofreader befuddled by everyday life. But in his fantasies, Walter imagines himself as various daring and heroic characters. Thurber's popular story, which was first published in The New Yorker in 1939, was later made into a movie. Walter Mitty has since become the eponym for dreamers who imagine themselves in dramatic or heroic situations.
Examples of Walter Mitty in a Sentence
Katie Rife, EW.com, 25 July 2023
Over the years, 179 Sullivan Street has played host to other famous residents including The O.C. actress Mischa Barton, as well as screenwriter Steven Conrad, best known for The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013).
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 2 June 2023
President Biden brought his Walter Mitty fantasies to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
—The Editors, National Review, 8 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Walter Mitty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Walter Mitty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Walter%20Mitty. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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