Definitions for petty
ˈpɛt ipet·ty

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. petit larceny, petty larceny, pettyadjective

   larceny of property having a value less than some amount (the amount varies by locale)

2. junior-grade, lower-ranking, lowly, petty(a), secondary, subalternadjective

   inferior in rank or status

   "the junior faculty"; "a lowly corporal"; "petty officialdom"; "a subordinate functionary"

3. fiddling, footling, lilliputian, little, niggling, piddling, piffling, petty, picayune, trivialadjective

   (informal) small and of little importance

   "a fiddling sum of money"; "a footling gesture"; "our worries are lilliputian compared with those of countries that are at war"; "a little (or small) matter"; "a dispute over niggling details"; "limited to petty enterprises"; "piffling efforts"; "giving a police officer a free meal may be against the law, but it seems to be a picayune infraction"

4. petty, small-mindedadjective

   contemptibly narrow in outlook

   "petty little comments"; "disgusted with their small-minded pettiness"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pettyadjective

   (obsolete except in set phrases) little, small, secondary in rank or importance

   Etymology: From petit, English since the late 14th century.

2. pettyadjective

   insignificant, trifling, or inconsiderable

   a petty fault

   Etymology: From petit, English since the late 14th century.

3. pettyadjective

   narrow-minded, small-minded

   Etymology: From petit, English since the late 14th century.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Petty

   little; trifling; inconsiderable; also, inferior; subordinate; as, a petty fault; a petty prince

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Petty

   Petty is an unincorporated community in Lamar County, Texas, United States. The Chisum Independent School District serves area students.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Petty

   pet′i, adj. small: of less importance: lower in rank, power, &c.: inconsiderable, insignificant: contemptible.—adv. Pett′ily.—n. Pett′iness.—Petty cash, small sums of money received or paid; Petty larceny (see Larceny); Petty officer, a naval officer with rank corresponding to a non-commissioned officer in the army. [O. Fr. petit.]

Etymology and Origins(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Petty

   Provincial for an out-house, because its accommodation is restricted to one person; also called a “Privy,” short for private.

How to pronounce petty?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say petty in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of petty in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of petty in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of petty in a Sentence

1. Mark Cancian:

   I would definitely call it petty and irresponsible, but United States is not endangering the security of the United States.

2. W. Somerset Maugham:

   It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering, for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive.

3. Sophie Scholl:

   “I know that life is a doorway to eternity, and yet my heart so often gets lost in petty anxieties. It forgets the great way home that lies before it.”

4. Theophrastus:

   Petty ambition would seem to be a mean craving after distinction.

5. Anuj Somany:

   Ignore others’ petty mistakes but never a person’s fool making tactics to the people.

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