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
plural -es
1
: the quality or state of being petty
seeking … freedom from the pettiness he found everywhere—
Peggy Bennett
Peggy Bennett2
: something petty : triviality
life was made up of innumerable little pettinesses—Sherwood Anderson
Sherwood AndersonExamples of petty in a Sentence
Adjective
a petty argument about grammar
My behavior was petty and stupid. I apologize.
Recent Examples on the Web
Maureen Dowd,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
Instead, Defendants appear to be actively undermining the restoration of the Kennedy Center’s name, in a petty act of defiance.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
20 June 2026
The two deaths join a long list of other instances of Black Americans dying in interactions with police after accusations of petty criminal offenses.
—
Travis Loller,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
Walking door-to-door, Ferguson emphasizes the need to address housing affordability, and forget divisive, petty Republican culture war politics.
—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for petty
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Adjective
The Babylon Bee posted a satirical video suggesting that if a female president was mercurial — launching foreign wars, trade wars and petty feuds — and focusing on gewgaws and shoes, she’d be endlessly belittled.
—
Maureen Dowd,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
Instead, Defendants appear to be actively undermining the restoration of the Kennedy Center’s name, in a petty act of defiance.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
20 June 2026
The two deaths join a long list of other instances of Black Americans dying in interactions with police after accusations of petty criminal offenses.
—
Travis Loller,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
Walking door-to-door, Ferguson emphasizes the need to address housing affordability, and forget divisive, petty Republican culture war politics.
—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 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 28 Jun. 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
Adjective
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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