petty meaning and definition

PETTY noun

Definition of petty (noun)

1. larceny of property having a value less than some amount (the amount varies by locale)
   • synonyms: petit larceny, petty larceny
   • antonym: grand larceny

PETTY adjective

Definition of petty (adjective)

1. inferior in rank or status
   • "the junior faculty"; "a lowly corporal"; "petty officialdom"; "a subordinate functionary"
   • synonyms: junior-grade, lower-ranking, lowly, secondary, subaltern
2. (informal) small and of little importance
   • "a fiddling sum of money"; "a footling gesture"; "our worries are lilliputian compared with those of countries that are at war"; "a little (or small) matter"; "a dispute over niggling details"; "limited to petty enterprises"; "piffling efforts"; "giving a police officer a free meal may be against the law, but it seems to be a picayune infraction"
   • synonyms: fiddling, footling, lilliputian, little, niggling, picayune, piddling, piffling, trivial
3. contemptibly narrow in outlook
   • "petty little comments"; "disgusted with their small-minded pettiness"
   • synonyms: small-minded