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 …

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.

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. 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 …

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

When someone describes an issue or a person as petty, they mean that it is insignificant or unworthy of serious consideration. This term often carries a negative connotation, implying a focus on small, …

PETTY definition: of little or no importance or consequence. See examples of petty used in a sentence.

The word 'petty' originated from the Middle English word 'petit', which means small or insignificant. Over time, its meaning evolved to include the idea of being overly concerned with trivial matters.

petty adjective (UNIMPORTANT) Add to word list unimportant or not serious: petty details