petty

Everyday

1. Small and unimportant: petty problems. tree →
2. Caring too much about small things in a mean way: «Don't be so petty!» tree →
3. Minor, less serious: petty crime, petty theft. tree →
4. Small, for daily use: petty cash. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday speech: «That's so petty!» = making a fuss about something tiny, being mean. In law: petty theft (stealing small things). In money: petty cash is a small amount kept for small costs. In history: petty kings ruled small lands.

Examples

• Don't be petty — share the crayons. tree →
• They had a petty argument about who sat where. tree →
• Shoplifting a sweet is still petty theft. tree →
• The office keeps petty cash in a tin. tree →
• Toad thought rules were petty. tree →
• It's petty to stay cross about a game. tree →

Note

Comparative: pettier, pettiest. From French petit (small). «Being petty» is a common teenage word.