English Lexicon

Munchkin

/ˈmʌntʃ.kɪn/
nounadjectiveCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #8500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    An extremely small person, or playfully, a young child.

    "She picked up her little munchkin from daycare and walked home."
  2. 2

    In role-playing games, a player who focuses exclusively on gaining power and winning rather than role-playing or adhering to the spirit of the rules.

    "The rules lawyer and the munchkin argued over the weapon's statistics for half an hour."

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Synonyms (3)
Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Originating from L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, where it referred to the inhabitants of the Eastern Land of the Oz nation. The term entered general English usage, later acquiring extended meanings to describe small people, children, or casually, players who optimize rules to win table-top role-playing games.

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