Petty Definition & Meaning
petty
- adjective
- inferior in rank or status; "the junior faculty"; "a lowly corporal"; "petty officialdom"; "a subordinate functionary"
- (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"
- contemptibly narrow in outlook; "petty little comments"; "disgusted with their small-minded pettiness"
- noun
- larceny of property having a value less than some amount (the amount varies by locale)
"Petty" in song lyrics
See how petty is used in real songs:
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"I rock the beat hard, got a blast for the petty"
A.D.O.R. — Enter the Center -
"Dissin those who pose with beef that's petty"
Artifacts — Art of Facts -
"Or die in the streets over somethin' petty"
Beanie Sigel — Die
Words that rhyme with petty
Usage tips for "petty"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "petty" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for petty to find words that pair well.