petty

¹

[ pet-ee ]

adjective

, pet·ti·er, pet·ti·est.

1. of little or no importance or consequence:

   petty grievances.

   Synonyms: slight, inconsiderable, negligible, nugatory

   Antonyms: important

2. of lesser or secondary importance, merit, etc.; minor:

   petty considerations.

3. having or showing narrow ideas, interests, etc.:

   petty minds.

   Synonyms: small

4. mean or ungenerous in small or trifling things:

   a petty person.

   Synonyms: miserly, stingy

   Antonyms: generous

5. showing or caused by meanness of spirit:

   a petty revenge.

6. of secondary rank, especially in relation to others of the same class or kind:

   petty states; a petty tyrant.

Petty

²

[ pet-ee ]

noun

1. Richard, born 1937, U.S. racing-car driver.
2. William, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, 1st Marquis of Lansdowne. William Petty Fitzmaurice Lansdowne.

petty

/ ˈpɛtɪ /

adjective

1. trivial; trifling; inessential

   petty details

2. of a narrow-minded, mean, or small-natured disposition or character

   petty spite

3. minor or subordinate in rank

   petty officialdom

4. law of lesser importance

Derived Forms

• ˈpettily, adverb
• ˈpettiness, noun

Other Words From

• pet·ti·ly adverb
• pet·ti·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of petty¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English peti(t) “small, minor,” from Old French petit, from unattested Gallo-Romance pittīttus, of expressive origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of petty¹

C14: from Old French petit

Synonym Study

Petty, paltry, trifling, trivial apply to something that is so insignificant as to be almost unworthy of notice. Petty implies contemptible insignificance and littleness, inferiority and small worth: petty quarrels. Paltry is applied to something that is beneath one's notice, even despicable: a paltry amount. Something that is trifling is so unimportant and inconsiderable as to be practically negligible: a trifling error. Something that is trivial is slight, insignificant, and even in incongruous contrast to something that is significant or important: a trivial remark; a trivial task.

Example Sentences

Look, of course it makes celebrities look weak and petty to get all het up about Chris Discourse now — Now!

From Vox

For another, many of the alleged crimes, like petty theft, are not that serious—while others aren’t specified at all.

From MIT Technology Review

What she is watching is mostly petty trivialities, and the power of the novel comes from Batuman’s ability to render those trivialities worthwhile.

From Vox

Imagine a president using that awesome power again for good rather than for exacting petty revenge on real and imagined enemies.

From Washington Blade

Another employee reported Carson searched a school site looking for employees mishandling petty cash.

From Voice of San Diego

Petty, shade, and thirst are my favorite human “virtues” and the trifecta of any good series of “stories.”

From The Daily Beast

In no way, he said, did Brown deserve to die for what began as petty theft.

From The Daily Beast

No more cynically cutting opposition candidates out of a district for petty political purposes.

From The Daily Beast

Of how incredibly petty the offense can be and how insanely disproportionate the retaliation can be.

From The Daily Beast

But when the end result is tens of millions raised, do the shades of vanity or petty grudges truly matter?

From The Daily Beast

Aunty Rosa had credited him in the past with petty cunning and stratagem that had never entered into his head.

From Project Gutenberg

On the 25th of November following the magistrates began to sit daily at Petty Sessions.

From Project Gutenberg

He became the low-born, petty tradesman, using the language of the hands of his jam factory.

From Project Gutenberg

He would give them money to return to their lines and for petty expenses en route.

From Project Gutenberg

Of the numerous petty divinities which watched over the child's early years we have already given some account.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• frivolous
• lesser
• minor
• narrow-minded