little people

American  

[lit-l pee-puhl] / ˈlɪt l ˌpi pəl /

plural noun

1. (in folklore) small, imaginary beings, as elves, fairies, or leprechauns.

2. the common people, especially workers, small merchants, or the like, who lead conventional, presumably unremarkable lives.

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little people British  

plural noun

1. folklore small supernatural beings, such as elves, pixies, or leprechauns

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Etymology

Origin of little people

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

Godzilla, "all the little people below are scrambling as these giants hit each other," says Federman.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

However, Sian said she was surprised by how little people knew about stem cell donation.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026

One way to understand how little people thought of these teams’ chances before the start of the season is through their preseason odds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025

Grab on to his cape and don’t worry about the little people on the ground.

From Salon • Jul. 13, 2025

For they are a little people, smaller than Dwarves: less stout and stocky, that is, even when they are not actually much shorter.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien