(often initial capital letter) a chicken of any of several varieties or breeds characterized by very small size.
a small and feisty or quarrelsome person.
any of various very small breeds of domestic fowl
a small but aggressive person
boxing short for bantamweight
an age level of between 13 and 15 in amateur sport, esp ice hockey
( as modifier )
bantam hockey
1740–50; apparently after Bantam, through which such chickens may have been imported to Europe
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His bantam squads were among the best in the country and seven of his players were invited to USA Hockey’s prestigious National Team Development Program Evaluation Camps.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
In March 2023, the bantam hen from Michigan was crowned the world's oldest living chicken by Guinness World Records.
From DOGO News • Sep. 19, 2023
Barnes grew up in Eastvale, just an hour from Los Angeles, and played for bantam and junior teams supported by the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2022
My bantam, Emmylou, likes to lay her eggs in the yard where I can’t find them.
From Washington Post • May 9, 2022
Xxxxxhenrietta is a bantam white legxxhorn. you know why shes unusual.
From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
