Runt
noun
The smallest and weakest animal in a group that is born at the same time from the same mother.
In a litter of puppies, generally, the runt struggles to compete with its siblings.
Often appears as...
- runt of the litter
- smallest runt
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A person who is small and weak.
Despite being the runt of the class, he proved to everyone that he was not weak.
Often appears as...
- runt of the class
- little runt
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
The smallest and weakest animal in a group that is born at the same time from the same mother.
In a litter of puppies, generally, the runt struggles to compete with its siblings.
Often appears as...
- runt of the litter
- smallest runt
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A person who is small and weak.
Despite being the runt of the class, he proved to everyone that he was not weak.
Often appears as...
- runt of the class
- little runt
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Context
Use 'runt' for the smallest, weakest young animal in a group, often struggling for survival.
The puppy identified as the runt of the litter required special care.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Size
'Runt' implies a struggle due to being undersized and typically underdeveloped, not just small.
The runt often faced more health issues than its siblings.
Pro Tip 3/3Sentimental Use
In storytelling, the runt can evoke sympathy or be the underdog who overcomes adversity.
The runt became the hero of the farm after saving the litter from danger.
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Context
Use 'runt' for the smallest, weakest young animal in a group, often struggling for survival.
The puppy identified as the runt of the litter required special care.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Size
'Runt' implies a struggle due to being undersized and typically underdeveloped, not just small.
The runt often faced more health issues than its siblings.
Pro Tip 3/3Sentimental Use
In storytelling, the runt can evoke sympathy or be the underdog who overcomes adversity.
The runt became the hero of the farm after saving the litter from danger.
Pro Tip 1/3Animal Context
Use 'runt' for the smallest, weakest young animal in a group, often struggling for survival.
The puppy identified as the runt of the litter required special care.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Size
'Runt' implies a struggle due to being undersized and typically underdeveloped, not just small.
The runt often faced more health issues than its siblings.
Pro Tip 3/3Sentimental Use
In storytelling, the runt can evoke sympathy or be the underdog who overcomes adversity.
The runt became the hero of the farm after saving the litter from danger.
Never forget "Runt"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Nick Veasey: Exposing...
Here I was fumbling around in the ladies' underwear department of a department store, almost got escorted from the premises. I live opposite a farm. And this was the runt of the litter, a piglet that died. And what's really interesting is, if you look at the legs, you'll notice that the bones haven't fused. And should that pig have grown,
Video examples
A Moment in the Sun by...
bloom into life but only one had the distance and the chemistry right not mercury the runt of us not much larger than our Moon where our Sun seems three times as big and shines 11 times as bright or hope of life died long ago when thrown off course this moonless rock got trapped into an orbit far too
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 59 PIPE...
that fourth cub that's physically with them there's not part of the same litter by the fourth cub I mean that little guy what could be a little girl I haven't been able see that's just sort of on it's ace I would assume that that's the runt and it's very curious that that one
Video examples
Snowy Egret Sacrifice PIPE...
in a bid for survival to stronger chicks mall a weaker sibling with the runt out of the way there will be more food for the other two down below the alligators watch this grizzly patch and eagerly the
Video examples
Snowy Egret's Nest PIPE...
in a bid for survival to stronger chicks mall a weaker sibling with the runt out of the way there will be more food for the other two down below the alligators watch this grizzly patch and eagerly
Video examples
Stoat Mother Hunts to...
worryingly one clearly isn't thriving having a runt in the litter is common if they are born smaller they struggle to compete with their bigger and stronger
Video examples
Hunting with a T-Rex PIPE...
a few days later and the mother rests in the warm afternoon Sun already there is no sign of the smaller runt he may well have been killed by his siblings
Video examples
Snowy Egret's Nest PIPE...
in a bid for survival - stronger chicks mall or weaker sibling with the runt out of the way there will be more food for the other two
Video examples
Snowy Egret Tug-of-War PIPE...
bid for survival to stronger chicks mall a weaker sibling with the runt out of the way there will be more food for the other two
Video examples
Animal Winter Games:...
in a bid for survival to stronger chicks mall a weaker sibling with the runt out of the way there will be more food for
Video examples
Nick Veasey: Exposing...
Here I was fumbling around in the ladies' underwear department of a department store, almost got escorted from the premises. I live opposite a farm. And this was the runt of the litter, a piglet that died. And what's really interesting is, if you look at the legs, you'll notice that the bones haven't fused. And should that pig have grown,
Video examples
A Moment in the Sun by...
bloom into life but only one had the distance and the chemistry right not mercury the runt of us not much larger than our Moon where our Sun seems three times as big and shines 11 times as bright or hope of life died long ago when thrown off course this moonless rock got trapped into an orbit far too
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 59 PIPE...
that fourth cub that's physically with them there's not part of the same litter by the fourth cub I mean that little guy what could be a little girl I haven't been able see that's just sort of on it's ace I would assume that that's the runt and it's very curious that that one
Video examples
Snowy Egret Sacrifice PIPE...
in a bid for survival to stronger chicks mall a weaker sibling with the runt out of the way there will be more food for the other two down below the alligators watch this grizzly patch and eagerly the
Video examples
Snowy Egret's Nest PIPE...
in a bid for survival to stronger chicks mall a weaker sibling with the runt out of the way there will be more food for the other two down below the alligators watch this grizzly patch and eagerly
Video examples
Stoat Mother Hunts to...
worryingly one clearly isn't thriving having a runt in the litter is common if they are born smaller they struggle to compete with their bigger and stronger
Video examples
Hunting with a T-Rex PIPE...
a few days later and the mother rests in the warm afternoon Sun already there is no sign of the smaller runt he may well have been killed by his siblings
Video examples
Snowy Egret's Nest PIPE...
in a bid for survival - stronger chicks mall or weaker sibling with the runt out of the way there will be more food for the other two
Video examples
Snowy Egret Tug-of-War PIPE...
bid for survival to stronger chicks mall a weaker sibling with the runt out of the way there will be more food for the other two
Video examples
Animal Winter Games:...
in a bid for survival to stronger chicks mall a weaker sibling with the runt out of the way there will be more food for
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Justin Lee
American Actor
I was the runt of my class. So I got away with the whole 'Oh, he's so cute' thing. I was in upper division math courses, so I would have junior and senior girls in my class, and they'd just sit behind me and play with my hair. I didn't mind that so much.
Quote examples
Russell Tovey
English Actor
When I was younger, I had terrible skin... my mother has terrible skin. Male-pattern hair loss is starting to come in... my dad is bald. It's so unfair; my brother's tall, has perfect skin, great hair, but I'm like the runt.
Quote examples
Xavier Woods
American Wrestler
Clearly, I wanted to be a pro wrestler, but I got laughed at. I was kind of the runt. I was never the tallest kid or the biggest kid or the strongest kid, so I would get laughed at when I'd say it.
Quote examples
Jeremy Kyle
English Journalist
I sort of felt like the runt of the litter. My brother was just great. If you gave him a cricket bat he'd score 100. If he walked into a party he'd pull the best-looking girl. He was my hero.
Quote examples
Will Poulter
English Actor
My dad's a professor of medicine; my mum was a nurse. My little sister is going into healthcare. My older sister is a nurse; my brother's in finance - I'm the runt of the litter.
Quote examples
Chris Gethard
American Actor
I've exceeded the expectations people had for me as an unconfident runt who grew up in North Jersey as well as the expectations I had for myself.
Quote examples
Rose Byrne
Australian Actress
I loved performing; I was always trying to impress my siblings by being a clown. I think that came from being the runt of the litter.
Quote examples
Don Johnson
American Actor
I was a little, skinny, runt kid, and I decided that bowling was what I was going to do in life.
Quote examples
Nick Moran
English Actor
As my mum still candidly says, I was the runt of the litter.
Quote examples
Israel Adesanya
Nigerian Athlete
I'm the runt of my people.
Quote examples
Justin Lee
American Actor
I was the runt of my class. So I got away with the whole 'Oh, he's so cute' thing. I was in upper division math courses, so I would have junior and senior girls in my class, and they'd just sit behind me and play with my hair. I didn't mind that so much.
Quote examples
Russell Tovey
English Actor
When I was younger, I had terrible skin... my mother has terrible skin. Male-pattern hair loss is starting to come in... my dad is bald. It's so unfair; my brother's tall, has perfect skin, great hair, but I'm like the runt.
Quote examples
Xavier Woods
American Wrestler
Clearly, I wanted to be a pro wrestler, but I got laughed at. I was kind of the runt. I was never the tallest kid or the biggest kid or the strongest kid, so I would get laughed at when I'd say it.
Quote examples
Jeremy Kyle
English Journalist
I sort of felt like the runt of the litter. My brother was just great. If you gave him a cricket bat he'd score 100. If he walked into a party he'd pull the best-looking girl. He was my hero.
Quote examples
Will Poulter
English Actor
My dad's a professor of medicine; my mum was a nurse. My little sister is going into healthcare. My older sister is a nurse; my brother's in finance - I'm the runt of the litter.
Quote examples
Chris Gethard
American Actor
I've exceeded the expectations people had for me as an unconfident runt who grew up in North Jersey as well as the expectations I had for myself.
Quote examples
Rose Byrne
Australian Actress
I loved performing; I was always trying to impress my siblings by being a clown. I think that came from being the runt of the litter.
Quote examples
Don Johnson
American Actor
I was a little, skinny, runt kid, and I decided that bowling was what I was going to do in life.
Quote examples
Nick Moran
English Actor
As my mum still candidly says, I was the runt of the litter.
Quote examples
Israel Adesanya
Nigerian Athlete
I'm the runt of my people.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension