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. …

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 …

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.

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 …

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

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

Petty Ranch Inn sits at the gates of Zion, with spacious rooms for couples and groups, on-site dining, and a private pool. Its story unfolds through an imagined family archive — part real, …