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

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 …

Nov 14, 2025 · petty (comparative pettier or more petty, superlative pettiest or most petty) Such literature may well be anathema to those who are too docile and petty for their own good. That …

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.

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

Petty can describe light offenses, narrow behavior, or small amounts of money, so context matters a lot. This guide walks through the main meanings of petty, how speakers use it in daily speech, common …

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