Word
petty
Phoneticspet·ty, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɛˌti/
UK/pˈɛti/
Definitions
01small-minded or spiteful
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. caring too much about small things or being mean to someone over a tiny problem.
adj. marked by narrow-mindedness or a tendency to be spiteful over trivial grievances.
“It was petty of him to stop talking to her just because she forgot his birthday.”
“The manager's petty refusal to approve a ten-minute break was seen by the staff as a deliberate attempt to exert unnecessary control.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02minor or unimportant
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describing something that is not very important or serious.
adj. of secondary importance or rank; trivial in nature.
“The police deal with petty crimes like shoplifting every day.”
“The legal team spent hours arguing over petty details that had no real impact on the final verdict.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03an outdoor toilet
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun British English · Dialect · Informal
n. an old-fashioned word for an outdoor toilet.
n. a dialectal and euphemistic term for an outhouse or outdoor lavatory.
“The old cottage still had a petty at the bottom of the garden.”
“Before modern plumbing was installed in the village, every household relied on a petty located a short distance from the main dwelling.”
Usage
Typically used to modify nouns like 'dispute', 'argument', or 'behavior', or as a predicative adjective following 'be' or 'seem'.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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