pettier; pettiest
1
: having secondary rank or importance : minor, subordinate
2
: having little or no importance or significance
3
: marked by or reflective of narrow interests and sympathies : small-minded
Synonyms
Examples of petty in a Sentence
a petty argument about grammar
My behavior was petty and stupid. I apologize.
Recent Examples on the Web
These characters shine when making the lives of those nearby an ongoing nightmare, and while Mr. Heckles' (Larry Hankin) petty complaints on Friends don't quite match up to Joe Goldberg's (Penn Badgley) misdeeds on You, all earn their place on this list in their own unique ways.
—
EW.com, 5 July 2024
But then, Loudoun County was ground zero for petty squabbles about children’s books and bathrooms, hardly the oppressions that tossed millions of immigrants to America’s shores.
—Washington Post, 3 July 2024
Zeus and his motley crew of immortals are as petty, territorial and devious as their human underlings.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
That’s plenty of drama, ridiculous and petty, to keep Emily occupied for a fourth season (the second part of which arrives Sept. 12).
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for petty 
EW.com, 5 July 2024
But then, Loudoun County was ground zero for petty squabbles about children’s books and bathrooms, hardly the oppressions that tossed millions of immigrants to America’s shores.
—Washington Post, 3 July 2024
Zeus and his motley crew of immortals are as petty, territorial and devious as their human underlings.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
That’s plenty of drama, ridiculous and petty, to keep Emily occupied for a fourth season (the second part of which arrives Sept. 12).
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for petty
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near petty
Cite this Entry
“Petty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petty. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
petty
adjective
pet·ty
ˈpet-ē 
pettier; pettiest
1
: lesser in rank or importance : minor
a petty prince
2
: having little or no importance or meaning
petty details
3
: having or displaying a mean narrow-minded attitude : small-minded
Etymology
Middle English pety "small, minor," an altered form of petit (same meaning), from early French petit "small"
Legal Definition
Biographical Definition
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