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
Examples of petty in a Sentence
a petty argument about grammar
My behavior was petty and stupid. I apologize.
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead, Washington stages high-volume skirmishes over symbolic and petty conflicts.
—
Jay Caruso, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
What begins as petty extortion turns into control of the local drug trade, as the girls style themselves as protectors of the poor and enemies of the corrupt.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
The first three charges are petty offenses punishable by 30 days in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.
—Julia Coin
february 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
The daughter of a gentleman and a maid, Sophie was orphaned at a young age and forced into servitude by her own father’s wife, the staggeringly bitter and petty Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for petty
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Jay Caruso, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
What begins as petty extortion turns into control of the local drug trade, as the girls style themselves as protectors of the poor and enemies of the corrupt.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
The first three charges are petty offenses punishable by 30 days in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.
—Julia Coin
february 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
The daughter of a gentleman and a maid, Sophie was orphaned at a young age and forced into servitude by her own father’s wife, the staggeringly bitter and petty Lady Araminta Gun (Katie Leung).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for petty
Cite this Entry
“Petty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petty. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Etymology
Middle English pety "small, minor," an altered form of petit (same meaning), from early French petit "small"
Legal Definition
Biographical Definition
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