Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Petty
Pet′ty
(pĕt′ty̆)
, Adj.
[
Com
par.
Pettier
(pĕt′tĭ-ẽr)
; sup
erl.
Pettiest
.] Little; trifling; inconsiderable; unimportant; also, inferior; subordinate;
as, a
petty
fault; petty
complaints; a petty
prince. Denham.
Like a
I walked about, admired of all.
petty
godI walked about, admired of all.
Milton.
Petty averages
. See under
– Average
. Petty cash
, money expended or received in small items or amounts.
– Petty officer
, a subofficer in the navy, as a gunner, etc., corresponding to a noncommissionned officer in the army.
☞ For petty constable, petty jury, petty larceny, petty treason, See
Petit
.
Syn. – Little; diminutive; inconsiderable; inferior; trifling; trivial; unimportant; frivolous.
Webster 1828 Edition
Petty
PET'TY
,Adj.
1.
Inferior; as a petty prince.We usually write petty constable, petty jury, petty larceny, petty treason. [See Petit.]
Definition 2024
Petty
petty
petty
See also: Petty
English
Adjective
petty (comparative pettier or more petty, superlative pettiest or most petty)
- (obsolete except in set phrases) Little, small, secondary in rank or importance.
- Like a petty god I walked about, admired of all. (Milton, Samson Agonistes, 1671)
- petty officer, petty cash
- Insignificant, trifling, or inconsiderable.
- a petty fault
- Narrow-minded, small-minded.
Synonyms
- (little, unimportant): See Wikisaurus:insignificant
Antonyms
- (little): See Wikisaurus:big
- (begrudging): See Wikisaurus:kindly
- (small-minded): broad-minded
Derived terms
Derived terms
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Translations
Little, trifling, or inconsiderable, as a petty fault
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See also
Noun
petty (plural petties)
- (chiefly in the plural, obsolete) A little schoolboy, either in grade or size.
- (now historical) A class or school for young schoolboys.
- (dialect, euphemistic) An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.
Synonyms
- (school for young schoolboys): ABC, petty school
- (class for young schoolboys): petty form
- (outhouse): petty-house, little house; see also Wikisaurus:bathroom