petty

adjective

pet·​ty ˈpe-tē 

pettier; pettiest

1

: having secondary rank or importance : minor, subordinate

2

: having little or no importance or significance

3

: marked by or reflective of narrow interests and sympathies : small-minded

pettily

ˈpe-tə-lē 

adverb

pettiness

ˈpe-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• illiberal
• insular
• Lilliputian
• little
• narrow
• narrow-minded
• parochial
• picayune
• provincial
• sectarian
• small
• small-minded

Examples of petty in a Sentence

a petty argument about grammar

My behavior was petty and stupid. I apologize.

Recent Examples on the Web

There is a long tradition of petty smuggling in the region. —Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Despite the emotional celebration, the Raptors’ Global Ambassador still had some petty energy to put into the air. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Tren de Aragua is best known for petty crimes, such as retail theft, and for targeting other Venezuelan migrants. —Ignacio Calderon, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024

The knifes range from the wee (petty and paring knives) to the grand (cleavers and vegetable knives). —Scott Hocker, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pety small, minor, alteration of petit

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing petty

• chief petty officer
• master chief petty officer
• master chief petty officer of the coast guard
• master chief petty officer of the navy
• petty bourgeois
• petty bourgeoisie
• petty cash
• petty larceny
• petty officer
• petty officer first class
• petty officer second class
• petty officer third class
• petty theft
• senior chief petty officer

Kids Definition

petty

adjective

pet·​ty ˈpet-ē 

pettier; pettiest

1

: lesser in rank or importance : minor

a petty prince

2

: having little or no importance or meaning

petty details

3

: having or displaying a mean narrow-minded attitude : small-minded

pettily

ˈpet-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

pettiness

ˈpet-ē-nəs 

noun

Etymology

Middle English pety "small, minor," an altered form of petit (same meaning), from early French petit "small"

Legal Definition

petty

adjective

pet·​ty ˈpe-tē 

: relatively minor in degree

a petty offense punishable by not more than six months in prison

compare grand

Biographical Definition

Petty

biographical name

Pet·​ty ˈpe-tē 

Sir William 1623–1687 English political economist