Pygmy
noun
A member of certain peoples of very short stature in equatorial Africa and parts of Southeast Asia.
The pygmies of the African rainforests have unique cultures and traditions.
Often appears as...
- pygmy tribe
- pygmy people
noun
A small or dwarf-like animal or plant.
The pygmy hippopotamus is much smaller than its cousin, the common hippopotamus.
Often appears as...
- pygmy elephant
- pygmy goat
adjective
Much smaller than normal size.
The pygmy owl is the smallest owl in North America.
Often appears as...
- pygmy owl
- pygmy shrew
noun
A person who is of less than average height.
He was a pygmy compared to the other basketball players on his team.
Often appears as...
- political pygmy
- moral pygmy
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
noun
A member of certain peoples of very short stature in equatorial Africa and parts of Southeast Asia.
The pygmies of the African rainforests have unique cultures and traditions.
Often appears as...
- pygmy tribe
- pygmy people
noun
A small or dwarf-like animal or plant.
The pygmy hippopotamus is much smaller than its cousin, the common hippopotamus.
Often appears as...
- pygmy elephant
- pygmy goat
adjective
Much smaller than normal size.
The pygmy owl is the smallest owl in North America.
Often appears as...
- pygmy owl
- pygmy shrew
noun
A person who is of less than average height.
He was a pygmy compared to the other basketball players on his team.
Often appears as...
- political pygmy
- moral pygmy
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Ethnic Sensitivity
Use the term respectfully when referring to indigenous ethnic groups to avoid offense.
Researchers collaborated with the pygmy communities to learn about medicinal plants.
Pro Tip 2/2Not a Slur
Be aware that the term can be seen as pejorative if misused or used to belittle someone.
Her work in the pygmy villages was both respectful and enlightening.
Pro Tip 1/2Ethnic Sensitivity
Use the term respectfully when referring to indigenous ethnic groups to avoid offense.
Researchers collaborated with the pygmy communities to learn about medicinal plants.
Pro Tip 2/2Not a Slur
Be aware that the term can be seen as pejorative if misused or used to belittle someone.
Her work in the pygmy villages was both respectful and enlightening.
Pro Tip 1/2Ethnic Sensitivity
Use the term respectfully when referring to indigenous ethnic groups to avoid offense.
Researchers collaborated with the pygmy communities to learn about medicinal plants.
Pro Tip 2/2Not a Slur
Be aware that the term can be seen as pejorative if misused or used to belittle someone.
Her work in the pygmy villages was both respectful and enlightening.
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Video examples
Part Ape, Part Human:...
kind ever found in the entirety of the early hominid record the radius the ulna and the humerus that is a human a pygmy of approximately the same size you can see how odd those arms are and when we saw that we said it must be a climber and we predicted what the hand would
Video examples
How squids outsmart...
to the 2.5 centimeters of the southern pygmy squid, these creatures fall into the group of animals known as cephalopods. There are about 500 squid species worldwide, and they live in all the world’s oceans, making them a reliable food source for whales, dolphins,
Video examples
Chaos in the Heart of...
And people just come and watch, it's like free performances. And I happened to come by one day when they were performing this piece, which is actually a pygmy dance. And it tells the story of two women who are rivals for the affections of a man.
Video examples
Borneo: Paradise Under...
want to keep and cherish know more about so all of these things what was that was the reason for me going to Borneo again and again and again the challenge to find the pygmy elephants here's a picture where you can actually see my
Video examples
4 Adorable Animals That...
lifestyle but are much less adapted to water their feet are less webbed and they spend more of their time on land they have rounded shorter snouts with smaller nostrils and they only have one set of incisor teeth pygmy hippos are
Video examples
Encoding culture PIPE...
pygmy Paris and four foot long rats in Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea is also a nation where over seven hundred languages are spoken my love and interest in Papua New Guinea was motivated by my love and fascination
Video examples
Eagles Hunt Prey...
she's a fussy eater a pygmy owl won't do her diet is so specialized she needs a partner to help capture it they're searching for a prey who's nearest living relative is the African elephant
Video examples
Aparna Rao: High-tech...
But they react to foreground sounds. You'll hear that in a second. So we worked very hard to make them as lifelike as possible. So each pygmy has its own behavior, psyche,
Video examples
The Unsinkable Lizard PIPE...
the tiny pygmy gecko is a master of the jungle so my newt it could sit on a fingertip he is dwarfed by life in the undergrowth
Video examples
Best of Animal Teamwork...
she's a fussy eater a pygmy owl won't do her diet is so specialized she needs a partner to help capture it
Video examples
Part Ape, Part Human:...
kind ever found in the entirety of the early hominid record the radius the ulna and the humerus that is a human a pygmy of approximately the same size you can see how odd those arms are and when we saw that we said it must be a climber and we predicted what the hand would
Video examples
How squids outsmart...
to the 2.5 centimeters of the southern pygmy squid, these creatures fall into the group of animals known as cephalopods. There are about 500 squid species worldwide, and they live in all the world’s oceans, making them a reliable food source for whales, dolphins,
Video examples
Chaos in the Heart of...
And people just come and watch, it's like free performances. And I happened to come by one day when they were performing this piece, which is actually a pygmy dance. And it tells the story of two women who are rivals for the affections of a man.
Video examples
Borneo: Paradise Under...
want to keep and cherish know more about so all of these things what was that was the reason for me going to Borneo again and again and again the challenge to find the pygmy elephants here's a picture where you can actually see my
Video examples
4 Adorable Animals That...
lifestyle but are much less adapted to water their feet are less webbed and they spend more of their time on land they have rounded shorter snouts with smaller nostrils and they only have one set of incisor teeth pygmy hippos are
Video examples
Encoding culture PIPE...
pygmy Paris and four foot long rats in Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea is also a nation where over seven hundred languages are spoken my love and interest in Papua New Guinea was motivated by my love and fascination
Video examples
Eagles Hunt Prey...
she's a fussy eater a pygmy owl won't do her diet is so specialized she needs a partner to help capture it they're searching for a prey who's nearest living relative is the African elephant
Video examples
Aparna Rao: High-tech...
But they react to foreground sounds. You'll hear that in a second. So we worked very hard to make them as lifelike as possible. So each pygmy has its own behavior, psyche,
Video examples
The Unsinkable Lizard PIPE...
the tiny pygmy gecko is a master of the jungle so my newt it could sit on a fingertip he is dwarfed by life in the undergrowth
Video examples
Best of Animal Teamwork...
she's a fussy eater a pygmy owl won't do her diet is so specialized she needs a partner to help capture it
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Maggie Rogers
American Musician
I listened to birds and crickets, looking for the ways that rhythm appears most naturally in the world. I listened to the Smithsonian's field recordings of pygmy choirs from Africa.
Quote examples
Richard G. Scott
American Clergyman
Some missionaries are giants in the Spirit and pygmies in skills in the Spirit. Work hard to develop a balance. Your leaders, and you, should teach the skills to each other.
Quote examples
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand
French Diplomat
Ones reputation is like a shadow, it is gigantic when it precedes you, and a pigmy in proportion when it follows.
Quote examples
Lester B. Pearson
Canadian Politician
The grim fact is that we prepare for war like precocious giants, and for peace like retarded pygmies.
Quote examples
Lord Robertson
Scottish Diplomat
For years, European leaders have pointed out that Europe is an economic giant, but a military pygmy.
Quote examples
Oliver Herford
American Author
Cat: a pygmy lion who loves mice, hates dogs, and patronizes human beings.
Quote examples
Winston Churchill
British Statesman
When the war of the giants is over the wars of the pygmies will begin.
Quote examples
Richard Hammond
English Entertainer
And I like pygmy goats, because they're just lovely, and ducks.
Quote examples
Honore de Balzac
French Novelist
Bureaucracy is a giant mechanism operated by pygmies.
Quote examples
The Notorious B.I.G.
American Musician
In South Africa, they think we're pygmies!
Quote examples
Maggie Rogers
American Musician
I listened to birds and crickets, looking for the ways that rhythm appears most naturally in the world. I listened to the Smithsonian's field recordings of pygmy choirs from Africa.
Quote examples
Richard G. Scott
American Clergyman
Some missionaries are giants in the Spirit and pygmies in skills in the Spirit. Work hard to develop a balance. Your leaders, and you, should teach the skills to each other.
Quote examples
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand
French Diplomat
Ones reputation is like a shadow, it is gigantic when it precedes you, and a pigmy in proportion when it follows.
Quote examples
Lester B. Pearson
Canadian Politician
The grim fact is that we prepare for war like precocious giants, and for peace like retarded pygmies.
Quote examples
Lord Robertson
Scottish Diplomat
For years, European leaders have pointed out that Europe is an economic giant, but a military pygmy.
Quote examples
Oliver Herford
American Author
Cat: a pygmy lion who loves mice, hates dogs, and patronizes human beings.
Quote examples
Winston Churchill
British Statesman
When the war of the giants is over the wars of the pygmies will begin.
Quote examples
Richard Hammond
English Entertainer
And I like pygmy goats, because they're just lovely, and ducks.
Quote examples
Honore de Balzac
French Novelist
Bureaucracy is a giant mechanism operated by pygmies.
Quote examples
The Notorious B.I.G.
American Musician
In South Africa, they think we're pygmies!
Example 1 of 10
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