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   pet·ty

   /ˈpedē/

   adjective

   • 1. of little importance; trivial: "both groups are known to fight over petty issues" Similar trivialtriflingminorsmallslightunimportantinsignificantinessentialinconsequentialinconsiderablenegligiblepaltryfootlingfiddlingnigglingpettifoggingnugatoryof little accountinformal:pifflingpiddlingpenny-antetwopenny-halfpennynickel-and-dimepicayunevulgar slang:chickenshitOpposite importantseriousmajor
   • ▪ (of behavior) characterized by an undue concern for trivial matters, especially in a small-minded or spiteful way: "he was prone to petty revenge on friends and family" Similar small-mindednarrow-mindedmeanungenerousgrudgingshabbyspitefulOpposite magnanimousgenerous
   • 2. of secondary or lesser importance, rank, or scale; minor: "a petty official"
   • ▪ (of a crime) of lesser importance: "petty theft"

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘small in size’): from a phonetic spelling of the pronunciation of French petit ‘small’. Compare with petit.

   Derivatives

   • 1. pettily adverb

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • T

     1

   • T

     1

   • Y

     4

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