The difference between Midget and Pygmy

When used as nouns, midget means a little sandfly, whereas pygmy means a member of one of various ancient equatorial african tribal peoples, notable for their very short stature.


Pygmy is also adjective with the meaning: relating or belonging to the pygmy people.

check bellow for the other definitions of Midget and Pygmy

  1. Midget as a noun (originally):

    A little sandfly.

    Examples:

    "Although tiny and just two-winged, midgets can bite you till you itch all over your unprotected skin."

  2. Midget as a noun (loosely):

    Any small swarming insect similar to the mosquito; a midge

  3. Midget as a noun:

    A normally proportioned person with small stature, usually defined as reaching an adult height less than 4'10".

  4. Midget as a noun (sometimes derogatory):

    Any short person.

  5. Midget as a noun (attributively):

    A small version of something; miniature.

    Examples:

    "the midget pony"

  1. Pygmy as a noun (often, _, capitalized):

    A member of one of various Ancient Equatorial African tribal peoples, notable for their very short stature.

    Examples:

    "The Bantu immigration drove many Pygmy tribes into the darkest jungle, while other Pygmies were reduced to cohabitation in a subservient status"

  2. Pygmy as a noun (Greek mythology):

    A member of a race of dwarfs.

    Examples:

    "Homer and Herodote mentioned pygmies in India (which would fit the Andamanese Negritoes) or Ethiopia (then meaning all of Subsaharan Africa)."

  3. Pygmy as a noun (figuratively, derogatory, offensive):

    Any dwarfish person or thing.

    Examples:

    "Everyone looked like pygmies whenever giant Joe joined his classmates."

  4. Pygmy as a noun (figuratively, derogatory, offensive):

    An insignificant person, at least in some respect.

    Examples:

    "Despite his towering stature, the minister proved a political pygmy."

  1. Pygmy as an adjective:

    Relating or belonging to the Pygmy people

  2. Pygmy as an adjective:

    Like a pygmy; unusually short or small for its kind

    Examples:

    "Soil exhaustion ultimately produces a pygmy crop at best"