The meaning of PETTY is having secondary rank or importance : minor, subordinate. How to use petty in a sentence.

Petty, paltry, trifling, trivial apply to something that is so insignificant as to be almost unworthy of notice. Petty implies contemptible insignificance and littleness, inferiority and small worth: petty quarrels.

petty adjective (SELFISH) selfish and mean, esp. because of having too much interest in small and unimportant matters:

1. of little or no importance; inconsequential: petty grievances. 2. of lesser importance or merit; minor: petty considerations. 3. having or showing narrow ideas, interests, etc.: petty minds. 4. ungenerous …

If you describe someone's behaviour as petty, you mean that they care too much about small, unimportant things and perhaps that they are unnecessarily unkind.

Nov 14, 2025 · The adjective is derived from Middle English peti, pety (“little, small; minor”) [and other forms], [1] from Anglo-Norman petit, Middle French petit, and Old French peti, petit, pitet (“young; …

Definition of petty adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.