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

Ocean secrets Fingernail-size pygmy seahorses are some of the smallest vertebrates on the planet, but British marine biologist Richard Smith makes their colorful world seem larger than life. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025

The big picture: The unnamed baby pygmy hippo was born at the Metro Richmond Zoo in December, and people are so obsessed with her that a poll to name her got 52,794 votes. —Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025

The zoo is excited to announce a heartwarming addition to our animal family just in time for the holidays: a baby pygmy hippo. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 28 Dec. 2024

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