petty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "petty" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is trivial, insignificant, or of little importance, often in a negative context. Example: "His complaints about the seating arrangement were so petty that it was hard to take him seriously."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On Saturday, a district court in the Black Sea port city sentenced 18-year-old Margarita Radetskaya – who can be seen in the video, at the head of six girls dancing to the song Touch You Tonight by the Jamaican dancehall artist Aidonia – to 15 days of administrative arrest for petty hooliganism, it said in a statement.

The Guardian

Their fellow prisoners will be a mixture of first-time offenders and seasoned recidivists, convicted for offences ranging from petty theft to murder.

The Guardian

From huge issues, such as the atmosphere around the loss of a major client, to trivial incidents, such as spats between art directors and copywriters, creative contempt for account people – and for everything to do with McCann Erickson – or petty jealousies in creative reviews: everything is spot on.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The pair later ended up suing each other in a case the high court judge called "petty".

The Guardian

As he lay dying, the ordinary people of Sidi Bouzid rose up against the petty bureaucrats who had held them in check until then.

The Guardian

Washington DC is already so fractious and petty that if politicians realize they're all part of the big family, that couldn't make things any worse, right?

The Guardian - Opinion

Those compelling questions, coupled with a petty reference about "vulture capitalism" from the departing Rick Perry, initiated Gingrich's surge last week.

The Guardian - Opinion

All of a sudden, my books seem rather petty".

The Guardian

When weak administration, petty economy, and official arrogance have provoked a sufficient amount of disgust, the offer of "popular government" which the three hon.

The Guardian

Pockets of unemployment and petty crime, often drug related, persist.

The Guardian

If the court of appeal throws this case out, we might hope to focus similar tolerance on drug abuse, shop-lifting, antisocial behaviours and petty crimes for which imprisonment is such a primitive answer.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing disagreements or conflicts, use "petty" to emphasize the trivial nature of the issue and discourage escalating the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "petty" in highly formal or academic writing where a more neutral term like "minor" or "insignificant" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "petty" functions primarily to qualify nouns, indicating that something is of little importance or significance. As Ludwig AI indicates, it describes minor offenses, squabbles, or even personal characteristics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "petty" is a versatile term for describing something as insignificant, small-minded, or of little importance. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently encountered across various sources, particularly in news and media. When writing, use "petty" to emphasize the trivial nature of an issue or to critique someone's narrow perspective. However, avoid overusing it in highly formal contexts. Remember, while synonyms like "trivial" or "insignificant" exist, "petty" often carries a stronger negative connotation, emphasizing small-mindedness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trivial

Implies a lack of significance or importance, similar to "petty" but often used in a more general sense.

insignificant

Highlights the lack of importance or consequence, closely related to the core meaning of "petty".

minor

Suggests a small degree or extent, akin to "petty" in denoting something not serious.

small-minded

Focuses on the narrowness of thought or behavior, matching one of the key connotations of "petty".

paltry

Emphasizes the meagerness or worthlessness, similar to "petty" in describing something negligible.

inconsequential

Indicates a lack of consequence or importance, mirroring the meaning of "petty".

trifling

Implies a lack of seriousness or value, aligning with the sense of "petty" as something unimportant.

niggling

Describes something causing slight but persistent annoyance or trouble, related to the idea of "petty" concerns.

picayune

Highlights the pettiness or small-mindedness of something, directly related to the meaning of "petty".

short-sighted

Focuses on a lack of foresight or vision, similar to the narrow perspective implied by "petty".

FAQs

How can I use "petty" in a sentence?

You can use "petty" to describe something insignificant or small-minded, such as "a "petty dispute"" or "petty jealousy".

What's a less negative synonym for "petty"?

While "petty" often carries a negative connotation, alternatives like "minor" or "small" can be used in more neutral contexts.

Is it correct to say "petty crimes" or should I use another term?

"Petty crimes" is a correct and commonly used term for minor offenses. Other related terms are misdemeanor or summary offense.

What is the difference between "petty" and "trivial"?

Both "petty" and "trivial" describe something unimportant, but "petty" often implies a negative connotation of small-mindedness or meanness, while "trivial" simply means lacking significance.