pygmy
pygmy Lexical Profile
pygmy Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Much smaller than the typical size for its kind; diminutive or dwarf (frequently used in the common names of animal and plant species).
"The wildlife sanctuary provides a protected habitat for the endangered pygmy hippopotamus."
• noun
A member of certain indigenous hunter-gatherer peoples of equatorial Africa (and parts of Southeast Asia) characterized by an average adult male height of less than 150 centimeters (4 feet 11 inches).
"Anthropologists documented the traditional polyphonic vocal music of the forest-dwelling Pygmies in the Congo Basin."
A person, animal, or thing that is unusually small or insignificant in comparison to others of its kind, including someone of very limited intellect or stature in a particular field.
"Compared to the towering literary figures of the nineteenth century, the critic dismissed the modern novelist as an intellectual pygmy."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the indigenous forest-dwelling peoples of Central Africa, the term (often capitalized as 'Pygmy') can be perceived as pejorative; specifying the exact ethnic group (such as the Aka, Baka, Efe, or Mbuti) is generally preferred in contemporary usage.
• Rhymes for pygmy
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Late Middle English via Latin from Ancient Greek 'Pygmaios', derived from 'pygmē', meaning 'fist' or 'the length from elbow to knuckles', originally referring to a mythological race of diminutive people mentioned by Homer.