Intermediate+ Word of the Day: petty

petty (adjective) /ˈpɛti/

Children often have petty arguments.

If something is petty, it means it is of little or no importance or of lesser importance compared to another thing. Something or someone having or showing narrow ideas or interests can also be called petty, and if we call someone petty, we are saying they are mean or ungenerous in small or trifling things. Something showing or caused by meanness of spirit can also be described as petty.

Example sentences

• These are petty concerns when we consider the serious challenges our world is facing.
• Their petty minds prevent those politicians from doing their jobs effectively.
• Kate is so petty; she tried to cause trouble for Emma, just because Emma got that promotion.
• Telling Mark what Jim said about him was a petty thing to do.

Words often used with petty

petty cash: a small amount of cash kept for buying minor office supplies. Example: “We need some stamps; can you take some money from petty cash and go buy some?”

In pop culture

Tom Petty was an American singer-songwriter. You can hear him singing “American Girl” here:

Did you know?

The term is now archaic, but people once called the aurora borealis (also known as the northern lights), the petty dancers.

Origin

Petty dates back to the mid-14th century. The Middle English adjective peti(t), as you may have guessed, came into English from the Old French petit, meaning small. It can be traced back to the Late Latin pitinnus (small), though its origin before then is uncertain. It may have evolved from the Gallo-Romance pittīttus, or perhaps from the Celtic root pett– (a part, piece or bit). Petty is, therefore, related to the Modern French petit, the Italian piccolo, the Spanish pequeño and the Portuguese pequeno (all meaning ‘small`). If the origin is indeed Celtic, petty is also related to the English word piece. In English, peti(t), and later petty, originally meant ‘small or trifling,’ with no negative connotation, as we can still see in some common uses, like petty cash. The sense ‘of small importance’ first appeared in the early 16th century, while the meaning ‘small minded’ is from the late 16th century.