Walter Mitty
noun
Wal·ter Mit·ty
ˌwȯl-tər-ˈmi-tē
: a commonplace unadventurous person who seeks escape from reality through daydreaming
Did you know?
The original "Walter Mitty" was created by humorist James Thurber, who wrote the famous story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." In Walter's real life, he is a reticent, henpecked proofreader befuddled by everyday life. But in his fantasies, Walter imagines himself as various daring and heroic characters. Thurber's popular story, which was first published in The New Yorker in 1939, was later made into a movie. Walter Mitty has since become the eponym for dreamers who imagine themselves in dramatic or heroic situations.
Cite this Entry
“Walter Mitty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Walter%20Mitty. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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