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Petty Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

Britannica Dictionary definition of PETTY

[also more petty; most petty]

:

not very important or serious

  • Let's not waste time arguing over petty [=trivial] details.

  • petty [=minor] crimes

  • a petty official [=an official who is not important and has little power]

:

relating to things that are not very important or serious

  • a petty argument about grammar

  • petty jealousy

:

committing crimes that are not very serious

  • petty criminals/thieves/crooks

:

treating people harshly and unfairly because of things that are not very important

  • a small-minded, petty person

  • My behavior was petty and stupid. I apologize.

— pettiness

/ˈpɛtinəs/

noun

[noncount]

  • the pettiness of their concerns