1
chiefly Scotland : a hardened stalk or stem of a plant
2
: an animal unusually small of its kind
especially : the smallest of a litter of pigs
3
usually disparaging : a person of small stature
runtiness noun
runtish adjective
runty adjective

Examples of runt in a Sentence

the runt of the litter one kitten was definitely the runt, weighing only six ounces at birth

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of runt was in 1602

Dictionary Entries Near runt

Cite this Entry

“Runt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runt. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

runt

noun
: an unusually small person or animal
runty adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on runt

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!