Walter Mitty

English

Etymology

From the main character in a short story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1939), by James Thurber.

Noun

Walter Mitty (plural Walter Mitties)

1. A sad or pathetic person given to flights of fancy; a daydreamer.
2. An imposter, especially one falsely claiming to have done military service.

Derived terms

• Mittyesque
• Walter Mittyish
• Walter Mitty syndrome