Petty Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of PETTY

[also more petty; most petty]

1

a

:

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]

b

:

relating to things that are not very important or serious

• a petty argument about grammar
• petty jealousy

c

:

committing crimes that are not very serious

• petty criminals/thieves/crooks

2

:

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