What does mannikin mean?
Mannikin is an old-fashioned noun for a man who is unusually small in stature. It can also be used figuratively to describe someone who is considered weak, unimportant, or lacking influence. The literal sense appears especially in historical and literary works, whereas the figurative sense suggests that a person's position or abilities have been reduced to insignificance. Although the word once had a formal place in standard English, it is now uncommon, and its use in reference to a person's height may sound archaic or insensitive. Modern speakers should usually choose manikin, diminutive, little man, or nonentity according to the intended sense. The term is especially memorable because it can describe both physical smallness and social powerlessness, often carrying the implication that the person has little authority.
nounA man who is unusually small in stature, especially in a historical or literary context. By extension, it can refer to a person regarded as insignificant or unimportant.
- A man who is unusually small in stature.
- A person regarded as insignificant, weak, or unimportant.
"The young prince was dismissed as a political mannikin by his powerful uncle."
"The courtier treated the young ambassador as a mannikin with no real authority."
"The novel uses the old-fashioned term mannikin when describing the king's diminutive adviser."
The plural is rare because the headword itself is archaic and uncommon.
"The chronicler portrayed several young princes as political mannikins."
Mannikin literally means “little man,” but it can also shrink a person's importance rather than merely their height.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mannikin come from?
Mannikin comes from Dutch mannekijn, a diminutive formed from man, meaning “man.” The Dutch word literally conveyed the sense of “little man.” English acquired several forms and spellings, including manikin, mannikin, and mannequin, with mannikin now surviving chiefly as an archaic spelling. The eventual meaning of a human model for displaying clothes developed through the related French form mannequin.
How mannikin is actually used
The word is archaic and uncommon in modern English. Because it can refer to unusually short people, it may sound dated or insensitive when used literally; in its figurative sense, it suggests powerlessness or insignificance.
Easily confused with mannikin
Mannikin is an archaic variant spelling of manikin, the modern form of the word.
A mannequin is a model used for displaying clothes, whereas mannikin historically denotes a physically small or insignificant man.