petty

pet·ty

adjective \ˈpe-tē\

pet·ti·erpet·ti·est

Definition of PETTY

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

— pet·ti·ly \ˈpe-tə-lē\ adverb

— pet·ti·ness \ˈpe-tē-nəs\ noun

Examples of PETTY

1. a petty argument about grammar
2. My behavior was petty and stupid. I apologize.

Origin of PETTY

Middle English pety small, minor, alteration of petit

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PETTY

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant

Related Words

inflexible, ironbound, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, set, stubborn, unyielding, wrongheaded; bigoted, intolerant; biased, discriminating, discriminatory, jaundiced, one-sided, partial, partisan, prejudiced; brass bound, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, stodgy, straitlaced (or straightlaced), stuffy; dogmatic (also dogmatical), opinionated, opinionative; limited; hick, unsophisticated

Near Antonyms

impartial, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced; freethinking

Rhymes with PETTY

Getty, jetty, netty, petit, sweaty, yeti

Pet·ty

biographical name \ˈpe-tē\

Definition of PETTY

Sir William 1623–1687 Eng. polit. econ.