Petty — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈpe-tē/ pet·ty

Meaning & Definition of Petty

Petty (adjective)

  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

Petty (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not broad or open in views or opinions

    "a petty little town that was not ethnically diverse and very happy about the situation"

    similar: illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, picayune, provincial, sectarian, small, small-minded
    related: inflexible, ironbound, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, set, stubborn, unyielding, wrongheaded, bigoted, intolerant, biased, discriminating, discriminatory, jaundiced, one-sided, partial, partisan, prejudiced, brassbound, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, stodgy, straitlaced, stuffy, dogmatic, opinionated, opinionative, limited, hick, unsophisticated
    opposite: broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant
    near: impartial, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced, freethinking

  2. so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention

    "obsessed over even petty problems"

    similar: chicken, de minimis, footling, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, measly, Mickey Mouse, minute, negligible, niggling, no-account, nominal, paltry, peanut, picayune, piddling, piddly, piffling, pimping, slight, trifling, trivial
    related: inferior, mean, imperceptible, inappreciable, little, puny, tiny, hairsplitting, nitpicking, pettifogging, quibbling, one-horse, small-fry, two-bit
    opposite: big, consequential, considerable, important, material, significant
    near: serious, substantial, weighty, eventful, momentous, pivotal, conspicuous, noteworthy, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, striking, appreciable, discernible, measurable

Related Entry: Petty cash (noun)

Petty cash is a different word from Petty. The synonyms below are for petty cash, not for petty.

  1. as in pocket money, spending money

    similar: pocket money, spending money, chicken feed (slang), chump change, dime, hay, mite, peanuts, pin money, pittance, shoestring, song, two cents
    opposite: big buck(s), boodle, bundle, fortune, king's ransom, megabuck(s), mint, wad, bankroll, capital, funds, means, wherewithal, opulence, pelf, riches, treasure, wealth, heap, pile, pot, bonanza, mine, treasure trove, treasury

Related Entry: Petty cashes (noun)

Petty cashes is a different word from Petty. The synonyms below are for petty cashes, not for petty.

  1. as in pocket moneys, spending moneys

    similar: pin money, pocket moneys, spending moneys, bankrolls, caches, collections, cushions, hoards, pocketbooks, reserves, treasures, assets, savings, savings accounts, chests, coffers, accounts, budgets, deposits, funds, kitties, nest eggs, pools

Related Entry: Petty larcenies (noun)

Petty larcenies is a different word from Petty. The synonyms below are for petty larcenies, not for petty.

  1. as in petit larcenies

    similar: petit larcenies, embezzlements, grafts, misapplications, misappropriations, peculations, pilferages, burglaries, housebreakings, abductions, carjackings, hijackings, kidnappings, larcenies, robberies, thefts, thieveries, despoilments, despoliations, pillages, rapines, spoliations, black marketeerings, banditries, piracies

Related Entry: Petty larceny (noun)

Petty larceny is a different word from Petty. The synonyms below are for petty larceny, not for petty.

  1. as in petit larceny

    similar: petit larceny, embezzlement, embezzling, graft, misapplication, misappropriation, peculation, filching, pilferage, pilfering, purloining, shoplifting, burglary, housebreaking, abduction, carjacking, hijacking, kidnapping, shanghaiing, larceny, robbery, stealing, theft, thievery, despoilment, despoliation, looting, pillage, plundering, rapine, spoliation, poaching, rustling, black marketeering, smuggling, banditry, piracy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Petty

The most common words with a similar meaning to Petty:

illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, picayune, provincial, sectarian, small, small-minded, chicken, de minimis, footling, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, measly, Mickey Mouse, minute, negligible, niggling, no-account, nominal, paltry, peanut, piddling, piddly, piffling, pimping, slight, trifling, trivial

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Petty

Words with the opposite meaning of Petty:

broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive, tolerant, big, consequential, considerable, important, material, significant

Related Words for Petty

inflexible, ironbound, obdurate, obstinate, rigid, set, stubborn, unyielding, wrongheaded, bigoted, intolerant, biased, discriminating, discriminatory, jaundiced, one-sided, partial, partisan, prejudiced, brassbound, hidebound, old-fashioned, reactionary, stodgy, straitlaced, stuffy, dogmatic, opinionated, opinionative, limited

Near Antonyms of Petty

impartial, nonpartisan, objective, unbiased, unprejudiced, freethinking, serious, substantial, weighty, eventful, momentous, pivotal, conspicuous, noteworthy, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, striking, appreciable, discernible, measurable

Word Forms of Petty

Inflections: pettier, pettiest

Derived words: pettily (adverb), pettiness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Petty

Middle English pety small, minor, alteration of petit

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Petty

petty cash, petty larceny, petty officer, petty officer first class, petty officer second class, petty officer third class, petty bourgeois, petty bourgeoisie

Frequently Asked Questions about Petty

What does "Petty" mean?

"Petty" means having secondary rank or importance, minor, subordinate. As an adjective, it is defined as: having secondary rank or importance, minor, subordinate. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Petty"?

Other words for "Petty" include illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial and picayune. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Petty" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Petty"?

There are 79 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Petty". Common alternatives include illiberal, insular, Lilliputian, little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, picayune, provincial and sectarian.

What is the opposite of "Petty"?

Antonyms of "Petty" include broad-minded, catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal, open, open-minded, receptive and tolerant. Near antonyms include impartial, nonpartisan, objective and unbiased.

How do you use "Petty" in a sentence?

Examples of "Petty" in a sentence: "a petty little town that was not ethnically diverse and very happy about the situation"; "obsessed over even petty problems".

Is "Petty" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Petty" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Petty"?

"Petty" is pronounced /ˈpe-tē/ and divided into syllables as pet·ty.

What is the origin of the word "Petty"?

"Petty" comes from Middle English pety small, minor, alteration of petit. First known use: 14th century.