noun
pygmy
PIHG-mee
Pygmy (noun) means a member of certain Central African peoples known for their notably short average height. Example: “Anthropologists have studied Pygmy communities in the Congo rainforest for decades.”
noun
1
A member of certain Central African peoples known for their notably short average height.
"Anthropologists have studied Pygmy communities in the Congo rainforest for decades."
adj
1
Unusually small for its kind, especially applied to animal breeds or varieties.
"The zoo's newest attraction is a pygmy hippopotamus."
"Amongst foodgrains, as we travelled from the green South and East towards the dry North and West, the pygmy crop of rice gave way to the tall bajra and jowar."
— Ashok V. Desai, The Price of Onions (1999)
How to use pygmy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefers either to certain short-statured Central African peoples, or, as an adjective, to an unusually small variety of something.
Common pairings
pygmy hippo
pygmy goat
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Word forms
- Plural
- pygmies
- Comparative
- more pygmy
- Superlative
- most pygmy
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Anthropologists have studied _____ communities in the Congo rainforest for decades.
Etymology
From Greek pugmaios, related to pugme ("fist"), originally describing a legendary race said to be as tall as a fist.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
giant
ettin
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “pygmy” mean?
The word “pygmy” means a member of certain Central African peoples known for their notably short average height. In plain terms, refers either to certain short-statured Central African peoples, or, as an adjective, to an unusually small variety of something.
How do you pronounce “pygmy”?
“Pygmy” is pronounced PIHG-mee (/ˈpɪɡmi/ in IPA).
How do you use “pygmy” in a sentence?
Here is “pygmy” used in a sentence: “Anthropologists have studied Pygmy communities in the Congo rainforest for decades.”
What is another word for “pygmy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pygmy” include dwarf, midget, pygmyish and dwarfish.
What is the opposite of “pygmy”?
The opposite of “pygmy” — its antonyms — are giant and ettin.
What part of speech is “pygmy”?
Depending on how it is used, “pygmy” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “pygmy” come from?
The word “pygmy” comes from Greek. From Greek pugmaios, related to pugme ("fist"), originally describing a legendary race said to be as tall as a fist.
How many meanings does “pygmy” have?
“Pygmy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a member of certain Central African peoples known for their notably short average height.
