pygmy

noun

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pyg·my | \ ˈpig-mē

variants: or less commonly pigmy

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

3a(1) : an unusually small person

(2) : an insignificant or unimpressive person an intellectual pygmy

b : something very small of its kind

Other Words from pygmy Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Phrases Containing pygmy Learn More About pygmy

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 The pygmy, or ground rattler, was historically found throughout Alabama, but recently has mostly only been spotted in the extreme southern parts of the state. — Dennis Pillion | Dpillion@al.com, al, 1 Aug. 2022 As a half-Nigerian dwarf and half-pygmy goat, Frankie is an example of two miniature breeds. — oregonlive, 19 July 2022 The petting zoo will include rabbits, pygmy goats, llamas, donkeys, and more. — Hartford Courant, 5 July 2022 Weighing in at a formidable 100 grams, the pygmy marmoset is the smallest monkey found on earth. — Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 18 May 2022 Five month-old male Nigerian dwarf goats and two African pygmy hedgehogs are the latest additions to Randall Oaks Zoo in West Dundee as the public facility opens for the 2022 season. — Mike Danahey, chicagotribune.com, 1 Apr. 2022 For the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, exemptions are related to certain outreach, monitoring, habitat restoration, and survey efforts. — Lindsey Botts, The Arizona Republic, 20 Feb. 2022 Unlike many of Arizona's birds, cactus ferruginous pygmy owls do not migrate or fly great distances. — Lindsey Botts, The Arizona Republic, 20 Feb. 2022 Just last year, half of Washington’s pygmy rabbit population was killed during wildfires. — Washington Post, 24 July 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pygmy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.