Meaning

6 senses
  1. (derogatory, often)Having little or no importance.

    a petty fault petty squabbles

    (informal) small and of little importance

  2. (derogatory, often)Of persons or their behaviour: marked by or reflective of undesirably limited interests, sympathies, or views; begrudging, selfish, small-minded; also, preoccupied with subjects having little or no importance and not mindful of broader concerns.

    Such literature may well be anathema to those who are too docile and petty for their own good.

    That corporation is only slightly pettier than they are greedy, and they are overdue to reap the consequences.

    gering, geringfügig, klein

    пустячныйpustjačnyj, ме́лкийmélkij, мелочныйmeločnyj

    мали́йmalýj, дріб'язко́вийdribʺjazkóvyj

  3. (derogatory, informal, often)Inclined to cause frustration or annoyance to others out of spite over minor grievances; extremely vindictive.

    My cousin is so petty—I forgot his birthday and he's been making snarky comments all week.

  4. (historical)Of or relating to the lowest grade or level of school; junior, primary.

  5. Little or small in size.

  6. Secondary in importance or rank; minor, subordinate.

    petty cash petty officer

Examples

69 sentences
  1. I think that Tom is petty.

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  2. I was involved in a petty argument.

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  3. Tom is just being petty, isn't he?

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  4. Tom can be quite petty at times.

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  5. What a petty thing to do!

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Translations

8 languages
Українська
By meaning 1
of persons or their behaviour: marked by or reflective of undesirably limited interests, sympathies, or views; preoccupied with subjects having little or no importance and not mindful of broader concerns:
Русский
By meaning 1
of persons or their behaviour: marked by or reflective of undesirably limited interests, sympathies, or views; preoccupied with subjects having little or no importance and not mindful of broader concerns:
Deutsch
By meaning 1
of persons or their behaviour: marked by or reflective of undesirably limited interests, sympathies, or views; preoccupied with subjects having little or no importance and not mindful of broader concerns:

Origin

The adjective is derived from Middle English peti, pety (“little, small; minor”) [and othe

The adjective is derived from Middle English peti, pety (“little, small; minor”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman petit, Middle French petit, and Old French peti, petit, pitet (“young; little, small; inferior; insignificant”) (modern French petit), ultimately of imitative origin. It is no longer thought that the word is derived from Celtic. Doublet of petit and petite.

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