petty
/ˈpɛt.i/ adjective B2- Having little or no importance. · a petty fault petty squabbles
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Comparative pettier · Superlative pettiest
From the library
But the affair is a petty one, one of our little country crimes, which must seem too small for your attention, Mr.
Petty thefts, wanton assaults, purposeless outrage—to the man who held the clue all could be worked into one connected whole.
After all, that is nothing; petty larceny, six months at the most.
He had once been a skilful sculptor and had earned an honest living, but he had taken to evil courses and had twice already been in jail—once for a petty theft, and once, as we had already heard, for stabbing a fellow-countryman.
Other matches
Learn petty in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.