/ˈpeti/
petty
BrE /ˈpeti/
NAmE /ˈpeti/
(usually disapproving)
[usually before noun]
small and unimportant
SYN minor
petty squabbles
petty crime/theft (= that is not very serious)
a petty criminal/thief
a petty bureaucrat/official (= who does not have much power or authority, although they might pretend to)
caring too much about small and unimportant matters, especially when this is unkind to other people
SYN small-minded
How could you be so petty?
▸
petti·ness
BrE /ˈpetinəs/
NAmE /ˈpetinəs/
[U]