petty

adjective

pet·​ty ˈpe-tē How to pronounce petty (audio)
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 adverb
pettiness noun

Examples of petty in a Sentence

a petty argument about grammar My behavior was petty and stupid. I apologize.
Recent Examples on the Web Even a man’s best friend isn’t safe from politicking and petty grievances. Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024 Many other actors’ memoirs fall victim to recounting petty anecdotes or leaning on emotional platitudes, but Davis’s solidifies all the good that can come out of a performing career. Fran Hoepfner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2024 The escapees ranged from individuals imprisoned over petty crimes to several notorious gang leaders. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024 Trying to Kill Each Other' And Walken is marvelous — querulous, petty, cruel — as the Emperor. Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 Whether the reasons for the friction are substantial or petty, the angst and problems this can create are legion. Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 This Capote is, that is to say, more petty and relatable than exceptional. Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024 Along the way, Ma reunites with series-regular Jang I-su (Park Ji-hwan) a petty hoodlum with an attachment to his designer man-purse and a secret desire, which Ma exploits amusingly, to be accepted as one of the squad. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 25 Feb. 2024 Social media pages dedicated to petty tea-spilling have become more prevalent, content moderation on platforms like X and Instagram has historically been complicated (to say the least), and the new attention economy online has bred a culture where more people can be kinda famous than ever before. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pety small, minor, alteration of petit

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of petty was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near petty

Cite this Entry

“Petty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petty. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

petty

adjective
pet·​ty ˈpet-ē How to pronounce petty (audio)
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 adverb
pettiness 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 How to pronounce petty (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce Petty (audio)
Sir William 1623–1687 English political economist

More from Merriam-Webster on petty

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