PETTY definition: 1. not important and not worth giving attention to: 2. complaining too much about things that are…. Learn more.

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

Synonyms for PETTY: small, parochial, narrow, little, provincial, insular, sectarian, narrow-minded; Antonyms of PETTY: liberal, tolerant, open, cosmopolitan, receptive, catholic, objective, impartial

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

1. trivial; trifling; inessential: petty details. 2. of a narrow-minded, mean, or small-natured disposition or character: petty spite. 3. minor or subordinate in rank: petty officialdom. 4. (Law) law of lesser importance.

Petty used to mean just "petite" or "small," but now it's used for things that are trivial and shouldn’t matter much. If you host world leaders and spend more time picking napkins than memorizing names, you're focused on petty things.

(disapproving) caring too much about small and unimportant matters, especially when this is unkind to other people synonym small-minded. How could you be so petty? (law) (of a crime or criminal) not very serious. When they run out of money, they sometimes turn to petty crime.

PETTY definition: 1. unimportant or not serious: 2. complaining too much about unimportant things: . Learn more.

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

Having or showing a tendency to make much of small matters. Relatively low in rank; subordinate. From Middle French petit, English since the late 14th century. The disparaging meaning develops during the 16th century. All the petty supervising establishments are composed of convicts.