pettiness

American  

[pet-ee-nis] / ˈpɛt i nɪs /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being of little, lesser, or no importance, consequence, or merit; insignificance.

   The economic cost of these wildfires pales into pettiness when compared to the real victims—the wildlife and the natural landscape.

   The film is a comedy about the boredom, pettiness, and general strangeness of working in an office, as the protagonists spend their days plotting a way out of their dull and meaningless jobs.

2. the quality or condition of having or expressing limited ideas, interests, etc.; narrow-mindedness.

   The novel is set against a background of small-town deceit and pettiness.

3. the quality or condition of being unkind, stingy, or ungenerous, especially in small or trifling things; meanspiritedness.

   Their pettiness is perhaps best demonstrated by the threatened removal of an assortment of services provided to residents—things like fresh fruit, free coffee, and a monthly outing.

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Etymology

Origin of pettiness

petty ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

This is a novel about pettiness, middle-class superficiality, disloyalty, prejudice and cruelty, with this coterie of rather vile friends acting as a microcosm for a society in decline.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

And yes, in a paroxysm of pettiness, he renamed Mt.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2025

The sheer pettiness of these gripes—the fact that these men continue to filter justice through their small, round, grudge-colored glasses—is what is breathtaking here.

From Slate • May 17, 2024

On the flip side, I do also understand the pettiness of the Tottenham fans who do not want Arsenal to win the title.

From BBC • May 16, 2024

Anyone but him, thought Lazlo, laughing a little at his own pettiness.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor