little people

[ lit-l pee-puhl ]

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.

little people

plural noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of little people¹

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

The company teamed up with Formula One to build new F1-themed Hot Wheels and has released Little People NFL collector sets.

From Los Angeles Times

"I have the problem that it’s not Putin that persecuted me but those little people I lived in the same city with," she says.

From BBC

The idea of casting little people had previously proven controversial after Emmy winner Peter Dinklage called out the “hypocrisy” of Disney being “very proud to cast a Latino actress as Snow White” while telling a “backward” story that makes caricatures of dwarf people.

From Los Angeles Times

The elite can make up lies, even ones that tear up working-class communities, as Vance and Trump are doing to Springfield, Ohio, and the little people should just take their abuse.

From Salon

Another change from the original was less welcome when the series was first announced: Morris, Clement and Waititi chose to cast average-sized actors Rune Temte, Tadhg Murphy, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva and Charlyne Yi alongside Kudrow instead of little people, who played the original bandits.

From Salon