pygmy

UK: 'Pygmy', 'pygmy': /ˈpɪɡmi/ US: /ˈpɪgmi/ ,(pig′mē)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pygmy, pigmy / ˈpɪɡmɪ/ noun ( -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

Etymology: 14th Century pigmeis the Pygmies, from Latin Pygmaeus a Pygmy, from Greek pugmaios undersized, from pugmē fist

pygmaean, pygmean / pɪɡˈmiːən/ adjective

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

Pyg•my or Pigmy /ˈpɪgmi/   n., pl. -mies, adj. 
n. [countable]

1. Physical Anthropology, Language Varieties a member of any of several small or short peoples of the forested regions of central Africa.
2. [pygmy] a small or dwarfish person.
3. [pygmy] anything very small of its kind.

adj. 

4. of or relating to the Pygmies.
5. [pygmy] of very small size, ability, power, etc.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Pyg•my  (pig′mē), n., pl. -mies, adj. 
n. 

1. Anthropology, Physical Anthropology
   • a member of a small-statured people native to equatorial Africa.
   • a Negrito of southeastern Asia, or of the Andaman or Philippine islands.
2. (l.c.) a small or dwarfish person.
3. (l.c.) anything very small of its kind.
4. (l.c.) a person who is of small importance, or who has some quality, attribute, etc., in very small measure.
5. Classics, Mythology (in the Iliad) one of a race of dwarfs who fought battles with cranes, who preyed on them and destroyed their fields.

adj. 

6. (often l.c.) of or pertaining to the Pygmies.
7. (l.c.) of very small size, capacity, power, etc.

Also, Pigmy. 

• Greek pygmaîos dwarfish (adjective, adjectival), Pygmy (noun, nominal), equivalent. to pygm(é̄) distance from elbow to knuckles + -aios adjective, adjectival suffix
• Latin Pygmaeus
• Middle English pigmēis, plural of pigmē 1350–1400

pyg′moid, adj. 
pyg′my•ish, adj. 
pyg′my•ism, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. See dwarf. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Pygmy, Pigmy / ˈpɪɡmɪ/ noun ( -mies)

1. a member of one of the peoples of Equatorial Africa, noted for their short stature and their hunting and forest culture