petty

CEFRB2

/ˈpɛt.i/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Unimportant or concerned with small matters.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Unkind because of an unreasonable focus on minor issues.

Examples

  • I was involved in a petty argument.

  • I'm sick and tired of all the petty squabbling among politicians.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • [ˈpʰɛɾ.i]
  • /ˈpet.i/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Inclined to cause frustration or annoyance to others out of spite over minor grievances; extremely vindictive.

  2. Of persons or their behaviour: marked by or reflective of undesirably limited interests, sympathies, or views; begrudging, selfish, small-minded; also, preoccupied with subjects having little or no importance and not mindful of broader concerns.

  3. Having little or no importance.

More examples

In context

  • We were involved in a petty argument.

  • Such literature may well be anathema to those who are too docile and petty for their own good.

  • That corporation is only slightly pettier than they are greedy, and they are overdue to reap the consequences.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The boss was annoyed by the blank arguments between the employees over small issues.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

The adjective is derived from Middle English peti, pety (“little, small; minor”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman petit, Middle French petit, and Old French peti, petit, pitet (“young; little, small; inferior; insignificant”) (modern French petit), ultimately of imitative origin. It is no longer thought that the word is derived from Celtic. Doublet of petit and petite. The noun is derived from the adjective.