Definition

Noun: 1. An animal, especially the smallest and weakest of a litter: This is the original and most specific meaning, referring to the smallest or weakest offspring in a multi-birth animal group, such as a puppy or piglet in a litter. 2. A person who is small and often weak or insignificant (disparaging): Used as a derogatory term to describe a person who is small in stature, often implying weakness, insignificance, or lack of development.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to an animal:
  • The runt of the litter often needs extra care from the farmer.
  • We decided to adopt the runt because no one else wanted her.
• Referring to a person (derogatory):
  • The bully called him a runt and pushed him. (Note: This usage is offensive.)
  • He was always the runt of the group when they were kids.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The term is inherently comparative. Something or someone is a "runt" specifically in comparison to others in its group (e.g., a litter, a family, a class).
• When applied to people, it is almost always pejorative and insulting. It should be avoided in polite or formal contexts.
• It can sometimes be used metaphorically for the smallest or least successful item in a set.
  • That old computer is the runt of the department's tech inventory.

Variants and Related Words

• Runty (adjective): Having the characteristics of a runt; stunted or undersized.
  • The runty plant struggled to grow in the shade.

Synonyms

• For animals: weakling, smallest.
• For people (derogatory): shrimp, pipsqueak, half-pint, midget (highly offensive), dwarf (can be offensive).

Idioms and Common Phrases

• The runt of the litter: The standard phrase used to identify the smallest/weakest animal in a birth group. This idiom is also the source of the term's metaphorical use for people or things.
  • As the youngest and smallest, he always felt like the runt of the litter in his family.

Noun

1. disparaging terms for small people