little man

American  

noun

(sometimes initial capital letters)

1. the common or ordinary person.

2. Informal. the small, ordinary investor, as opposed to big investment institutions.

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little man British  

noun

1. a man of no importance or significance

2. a tradesman or artisan operating on a small scale

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Etymology

Origin of little man

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

little man

"I need to live in the moment while he's learning and is still progressing and he is a happy and healthy little man," Tammy said.

From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2026

For more than two years our little man provided unending amusement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026

He addresses his dead son, musing as to whether to plead guilty to the charges against him: “Hey, little man, can you hear me?” he intones.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2025

To expend energy railing against this one petty, petty little man is to inveigh against the symptom, as opposed to the problem.

From Slate ● May 22, 2024

Meggie could remember how the thin little man had come hurrying up the nave of Capricorn’s church with his pile of books.

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke