Mitty

American  

[mit-ee] / ˈmɪt i /

noun

1. Walter Mitty.

---

Mitty British  

/ ˈmɪtɪ /

noun

1. 1. a fictional character given to grand and elaborate fantasies; daydreamer

   2. ( as modifier )

      a Walter Mitty character

      a Mitty act

---

Other Word Forms

• Mittyesque adjective
• Mittyish adjective

Etymology

Origin of Mitty

C20: from a short story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1939), by James _Thurber

Example Sentences

For more than a decade, a group of anonymous veterans known as the Walter Mitty Hunters Club say they have made it their mission to help expose frauds posing as military service men or women.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

Walter Mitty is a term sometimes used to describe a person who fantasizes about a life more interesting and exciting than their own.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

Ontario Christian went 30-2, defeated Etiwanda twice, defeated Sierra Canyon twice and handed the first defeat of the season to San Jose Archbishop Mitty en route to winning the Southern Section Open Division championship.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2025

Ze’Ni Petterson finished with 17 points for Mitty.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2025

“To aging Walter Mitty types like myself, Dick Bass was an inspiration,” Seaborn Beck Weathers explained in a thick East Texas twang during the trek to Everest Base Camp last April.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer