petit

adjective

pet·​it ˈpe-tē How to pronounce petit (audio)
: petty sense 1
used chiefly in legal compounds

Examples of petit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lonely Pine Steakhouse, Pleasant Ridge After almost seven years serving T-bone steaks, petit filets and butter boards, Lonely Pine Steakhouse shuttered its retro steakhouse in Pleasant Ridge on Oct. 4. Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, small, minor, from Anglo-French, small

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Petit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petit. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

Legal Definition

petit

adjective
pet·​it ˈpe-tē How to pronounce petit (audio)
: petty
Etymology

Anglo-French, minor, small

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