Using today’s respectful language, the key difference is this: “dwarf” (or “person with dwarfism”) is a neutral, medical and community‑accepted term for certain conditions causing short stature, while “midget” is now widely considered outdated and offensive and is generally avoided.

Quick Scoop: Short answer

  • “Dwarf” usually refers to a person with a medical or genetic condition that causes short stature, often with some disproportion between the limbs and torso.
  • “Midget” was historically used for people who were very short but with average‑like body proportions, but today it is viewed as a slur by many and is not used in modern medical language or by most advocacy groups.
  • The respectful modern terms are “person with dwarfism”, “little person”, or “person of short stature,” and when in doubt, just use the person’s name and ask what they prefer.

A bit more detail

Historically, English speakers used “midget” for a person who was unusually short but with otherwise “normal” body proportions (head, torso, arms, and legs all roughly in proportion to each other). Reference works even described it as “proportionate dwarf,” but they now also note that the word is considered pejorative.

By contrast, “dwarf” is linked to dwarfism: a group of more than 300 medical conditions where a person’s adult height is significantly below average, often with characteristic skeletal differences, such as shorter limbs relative to the torso or other bone and joint changes. This term is still used in medicine and by many people in the community, though some prefer “little person” or “person of short stature.”

Why “midget” is a problem today

The word “midget” has a long association with circus sideshows and entertainment acts where people of short stature were exhibited as curiosities, which many advocacy groups now see as dehumanizing. Modern guides on respectful language emphasize that it is an offensive slur and recommend not using it at all.

Organizations such as Little People of America actively campaign against the word and encourage the use of “dwarf,” “little person,” or simply a person’s name instead. Many people with dwarfism say that hearing “midget” feels similar to hearing other slurs directed at minority groups.

Medical vs social distinction

From a medical and social point of view, the important distinctions today are:

  • Medical concept:
    • Dwarf/dwarfism: Recognized medical conditions leading to short stature; can involve bone growth differences, joint issues, and specific genetic causes.
* “Midget”: Not a medical diagnosis; modern health references either avoid it or only mention it as outdated terminology.
  • Body proportions (older usage):
    • Proportionate short stature: In older texts, sometimes described with the word “midget” or “proportionate dwarf.”
* Disproportionate short stature: Classically associated with many forms of dwarfism, such as shorter limbs compared with the torso.
  • Social meaning today:
    • “Dwarf” / “little person” / “person of short stature”: Generally acceptable, especially when you respect the individual’s preference.
* “Midget”: Widely rejected as disrespectful or offensive; best avoided in normal conversation.

Simple example

If you were writing a forum post today, a considerate phrasing would be:

Instead of asking “What’s the difference between a midget and a dwarf?”, it’s better to ask “What’s the difference between different kinds of dwarfism or short stature, and what terms are respectful to use?”

That keeps the focus on accurate information and on treating people with dignity.

TL;DR:
Medically and socially, “dwarf” (or “person with dwarfism”) is a current, generally acceptable term for certain causes of short stature, while “midget” is an outdated and offensive word that most people and organizations now urge others not to use.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.