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

• dwarf
• toy
• diminutive

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

In 2016, pygmy hippos were deemed an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 6 June 2025

Listen to this article A Ramona Wildlife Center pygmy hippo that was rescued more than two decades ago broke a world record this weekend by becoming the oldest living captive pygmy hippo in recorded history, San Diego Humane Society officials said. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025

And with many fewer moths, the pygmy possum's future is even bleaker. —Ari Daniel, NPR, 12 Jan. 2025

Currently, there are fewer than 3,000 pygmy hippos in the wild, according to San Diego Zoo. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025

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

Rhymes for pygmy

• pigmy

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