Pygmy means belonging to a species of animal which is the smallest of a group of related species.
Reaching a maximum height of 56cm the pygmy goat is essentially a pet.
2. countable noun
A pygmy is a member of a group of very short people who live in Africa or south-east Asia.
...the pygmy tribes of Papua New Guinea.
More Synonyms of pygmy
pygmy in British English
or pigmy (ˈpɪɡmɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-mies
1.
an abnormally undersized person
2.
something that is a very small example of its type
3.
a person of little importance or significance
4. (modifier)
of very small stature or size
Derived forms
pygmaean or pygmean (pɪɡˈmiːən)
adjective
Word origin
C14 pigmeis the Pygmies, from Latin Pygmaeus a Pygmy, from Greek pugmaios undersized, from pugmē fist
Pygmy in British English
or Pigmy (ˈpɪɡmɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-mies
a member of one of the peoples of Equatorial Africa, noted for their short stature and their hunting and forest culture
Pygmy in American English
(ˈpɪgmi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈPygmies
1.
any of several groups of small African or Asian peoples described in ancient history and legend
2.
a person belonging to any of several modern African (Negrillo) and Asian (Negrito) peoples of small stature
3. [p-]
any person, animal, or plant abnormally undersized; dwarf
4. [p-]
an insignificant person or thing
adjective
5.
of the Pygmies
6. [p-]
a.
very small
b.
insignificant
SIMILAR WORDS: dwarf
Word origin
ME pigmey < L pygmaeus < Gr pygmaios, of the length of the pygmē, forearm and fist, also fist: see pugnacious
Examples of 'pygmy' in a sentence
pygmy
My boyfriend won't let me buy a pygmy hippo.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The pygmy elephant is the smallest of its family, but it still makes for a formidable adversary.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
YOU can't bleat a pygmy goat.
The Sun (2015)
With incidents such as the mass poisoning in Borneo, the pygmy elephants could be going the same way.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Q We have three pygmy goats, two of which are timid and run away when approached.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
All related terms of 'pygmy'
pygmy glider
a small arboreal marsupial , Acrobates pygmaeus , of Australia and New Guinea moving with gliding leaps using folds of skin between the hind limbs and forelimbs
pygmy possum
any of various small Australasian marsupials , esp the burramys
pygmy marmoset
a related form, Cebuella pygmaea: the smallest monkey , inhabiting tropical forests of the Amazon
pygmy chimpanzee
→ bonobo
least weasel
a weasel , Mustela nivalis , of northern regions, that grows to a length of about 6 in. (15 cm)
bonobo
an anthropoid ape , Pan paniscus , of central W Africa: similar to the chimpanzee but much smaller and having a black face
(modifier)
Definition
very small
The pygmy hippopotamus is less than 6 ft long.
Synonyms
small
miniature
dwarf
tiny
wee
stunted
diminutive
minuscule
midget
elfin
undersized
teeny-weeny
Lilliputian
dwarfish
teensy-weensy
pygmean
1 (noun)
Definition
an abnormally undersized person
an encounter with the Ituri Forest pygmies
Synonyms
midget
dwarf
With the aid of magic the dwarfs created a wonderful rope.
shrimp (informal)
Lilliputian
Tom Thumb
munchkin (informal, mainly US)
homunculus
manikin
2 (noun)
Definition
a person of little importance or significance
He saw the politicians of his day as pygmies, not as giants.
Synonyms
nonentity
She was written off after that as a political nonentity.
nobody
A man in my position has nothing to fear from a nobody like you.
lightweight (informal)
mediocrity
Surrounded by mediocrities, she seemed a towering intellectual.
cipher
They were little more than ciphers who faithfully carried out their master's commands.
small fry
non-person
pipsqueak (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cipher
Definition
a person or thing of no importance
They were little more than ciphers who faithfully carried out their master's commands.
Synonyms
nobody,
nonentity,
non-person
in the sense of dwarf
Definition
(in folklore) a small ugly manlike creature, often possessing magical powers
With the aid of magic the dwarfs created a wonderful rope.
Synonyms
gnome,
midget,
Lilliputian,
Tom Thumb,
munchkin (informal, US),
homunculus,
manikin,
hop-o'-my-thumb,
pygmy or pigmy
in the sense of Lilliputian
Definition
a tiny person or being
Synonyms
midget,
dwarf,
Tom Thumb,
munchkin (informal, US),
homunculus,
manikin,
hop-o'-my-thumb,
pygmy or pigmy
Nearby words of
pygmy
puzzled
puzzlement
puzzling
pygmy
pyromaniac
quack
quadrangle
Synonyms of 'pygmy'
pygmy
Explore 'pygmy' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mediocrity
Surrounded by mediocrities, she seemed a towering intellectual.
Synonyms
nonentity,
nobody,
lightweight (informal),
second-rater,
cipher,
non-person
in the sense of nobody
Definition
a person of no importance
A man in my position has nothing to fear from a nobody like you.