1. plural of pigmy; members of any of various peoples of very short stature, especially those of equatorial Africa
Usage: often capitalized when referring to specific ethnic groups; alternative spelling of ‘pygmies’
2. very small people or things; dwarfs
Usage: figurative use

Examples

• The anthropologist studied the culture of the African pigmies.
• Compared to the towering redwoods, we felt like pigmies.
• The pigmies of the Congo basin have adapted to forest life.
• In the fairy tale, the pigmies helped the lost traveler.
• The documentary featured pigmies from several different tribes.
• Among the basketball players, he looked like one of the pigmies.