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

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

“Little by little, people started to ask to do it, which was fun,” says Becker.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2025

After all, what are any of us little people going to do about it?

From Salon • May 18, 2024

High, high and away, the glaring white lights of the bridge— he thought he could see small figures there, little people moving in the white light.

From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen