An affectionate informal nickname for a small or endearing person, with related uses for Oz characters, a short-legged cat breed, doughnut holes, gaming slang for an exploit-focused role-player, and Steve Jackson Games' card game.
Veterinarians monitor Munchkin cats for mobility issues.
The Munchkin curled up on the windowsill.
Her munchkin fell asleep before dessert.
Her build was strong, but she was not a munchkin because she shared the spotlight.
He ate one glazed munchkin before taking his coffee.
Similar words
Munchkin cat
short-legged cat
min-maxer
tyke
doughnut bite
dwarf cat breed
little one
doughnut hole
youngster
tot
Meanings
Endearing small-person nickname
noun
everyday
informal
An affectionate nickname for a child, pet, partner, or small endearing person, sometimes belittling when aimed at an adult's size.
Examples
Her munchkin fell asleep before dessert.
The little munchkin insisted on carrying his own backpack.
At five feet tall, I am short, not a munchkin.
She calls her puppy munchkin when it curls up beside her.
The costume made the actor look like a cheerful munchkin.
Similar words
little one
small child
kiddo
youngster
tot
tyke
Oz inhabitant
noun
literature
neutral
One of the small people from Munchkin Country in the Oz stories and their adaptations.
Examples
Dorothy first meets the Munchkins after the house lands in Oz.
The Munchkin mayor appears in the film adaptation.
In Baum's story, Munchkins come from the eastern part of Oz.
Several Munchkins thank Dorothy after the witch dies.
The word Munchkin began as Baum's name for these Oz people.
Similar words
Short-legged cat breed
noun
pets
neutral
A domestic cat breed with noticeably short legs caused by a naturally occurring genetic mutation.
Examples
The Munchkin curled up on the windowsill.
She adopted a Munchkin from a breeder.
A Munchkin has short legs but a normal-sized body.
Veterinarians monitor Munchkin cats for mobility issues.
The Munchkin breed is known for an outgoing personality.
Similar words
Munchkin cat
short-legged cat
dwarf cat breed
Doughnut-hole treat
noun
food
informal
A small round doughnut hole, especially one called by Dunkin's trademarked Munchkins name.
Examples
She brought a box of Munchkins to the morning meeting.
He ate one glazed munchkin before taking his coffee.
The children split a dozen Munchkins after soccer practice.
The menu called them doughnut holes, but he still asked for munchkins.
A powdered munchkin left sugar on the napkin.
Similar words
doughnut hole
donut hole
doughnut bite
Power-focused role-player
noun
gaming
slang
A tabletop role-playing-game player who chases power, loopholes, or victory at the expense of story and group play.
Examples
The game master asked the munchkin to stop exploiting loopholes.
Nobody minded optimization until one munchkin tried to dominate every scene.
The forum used munchkin for players who treated the campaign like a scoreboard.
Her build was strong, but she was not a munchkin because she shared the spotlight.
The joke behind the card game comes from munchkin culture in RPGs.
Similar words
powergamer
min-maxer
twink
rules exploiter
Comedy card game
noun
tabletop games
neutral
A Steve Jackson Games card game that parodies dungeon-crawl role-playing by rewarding monster fighting, treasure grabbing, and player sabotage.
Examples
We played Munchkin after dinner.
Steve Jackson Games publishes Munchkin and many expansions.
The goal in Munchkin is to reach the winning level before the other players.
The jokes in Munchkin parody dungeon-crawl fantasy.
Her first Munchkin deck was the Deluxe Edition.
Similar words
Etymology
From the Munchkins, the small people in L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The lowercase informal use for a small or endearing person is recorded later in American English, and the name was later used for the cat breed, Dunkin's Munchkins, and the card-game title.
FAQ
What does munchkin mean?
munchkin can mean an affectionate nickname, an Oz character, a short-legged cat breed, a doughnut hole, a pejorative RPG player, or the Munchkin card game.
Should munchkin be capitalized?
Use lowercase for the generic nickname, food, and RPG slang. Capitalize Munchkin for the Oz people, the cat breed, Dunkin's branded snacks, and the card game.
Where does munchkin come from?
munchkin comes from the Munchkins in L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Is munchkin insulting?
munchkin is often affectionate for a child, but it can sound patronizing for an adult. In RPG slang it is usually an insult.
What is a Munchkin cat?
A Munchkin cat is a domestic cat breed known for short legs caused by a naturally occurring genetic mutation.
Can munchkin mean a doughnut hole?
Yes. munchkin can be used informally for a doughnut hole, especially from Dunkin's branded Munchkins.
What is Munchkin the game?
Munchkin is a Steve Jackson Games card game that parodies fantasy role-playing with monsters, treasure, levels, and player sabotage.
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