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

• small
• parochial
• narrow
• little

Examples of petty in a Sentence

a petty argument about grammar

My behavior was petty and stupid. I apologize.

Recent Examples on the Web

The film is described as an intense drama about two Palestinian refugees living in Athens, caught between petty scams and the hope of a better life in Germany. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 June 2025

In the end, what started as a petty doormat rivalry has turned into something much more joyful. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025

Which party is willing to set aside petty differences and ego, and work in the interests of American prosperity? —Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 6 June 2025

This Christlike journey of scapegoating and torment ends in comeuppance for the haters and doubters, whose petty provocations tend to evoke a Bond villain in adolescence. —Joshua Hunt, Vulture, 5 June 2025

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

Rhymes for petty

• betty
• chetty
• jetty
• petit
• sweaty
• yeti
• confetti
• libretti
• spaghetti
• spermaceti

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