petty
Having little or no importanceHaving little or no importance.
» I think that Tom is petty.
Meaning
6 senses(derogatory, often)Having little or no importance.
a petty fault petty squabbles
(informal) small and of little importance
(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
(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.
(historical)Of or relating to the lowest grade or level of school; junior, primary.
Little or small in size.
Secondary in importance or rank; minor, subordinate.
petty cash petty officer
Examples
69 sentencesI think that Tom is petty.
I was involved in a petty argument.
Tom is just being petty, isn't he?
Tom can be quite petty at times.
What a petty thing to do!
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
The adjective is derived from Middle English peti, pety (“little, small; minor”) [and otheThe 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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Forms
pettier/more petty, pettiest/most petty| Comparative | pettier / more petty Lesson |
|---|---|
| Superlative | pettiest / most petty Lesson |
regular
Synonyms
86 synonyms- contemptibly narrow in outlook:small-minded
- inferior in rank or status:junior-gradelower-rankinglowlysecondarysubaltern
- (informal) small and of little importance:fiddlingfootlinglilliputianlittlenigglingpiddlingpifflingpicayune
Antonyms
118 antonymsWord family
31 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A2Comparatives — Because it has a comparative form
- A2Superlatives — Because it has a superlative form