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Synonyms

little person

American  
[lit-l pur-suhn] / ˈlɪt l ˌpɜr sən /

noun

  1. a person of small stature, like someone with dwarfism.

  2. a small child.


Etymology

Origin of little person

First recorded in 1530–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Motherhood is an endless job that you do even when you don't want to, because a little person depends on you," she says.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Growing up on the East Coast and being a little person, I used comedy as a way to break the ice, and also be like, “Hey, let’s be funny and lighten the situation.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 12, 2025

Being the only little person in the room, these restaurants all gave me the royal treatment.

From Salon • May 2, 2024

“Even as a little person, it wasn’t about just being seen, it was about the telling of the story,” she said.

From New York Times • May 10, 2023

“Only a saber fencer roars like that. I thought you were a meek little person, but you obviously have something else going on in there.”

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad