petty
gb/pˈɛti/ us/pˈɛti/
B1
English
~ 4500
kicsinyes, pitiáner, jelentéktelen, kisebb súlyú, apróbb
B2
INFORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is petty about [something]
She can be so petty, holding grudges over the smallest mistakes.
Olyan kicsinyes tud lenni: a legapróbb hibák miatt is haragot tart.
His petty comments made the meeting uncomfortable.
A kicsinyes megjegyzései kellemetlenné tették a megbeszélést.
I don't want to sound petty, but I really disliked the way he ignored me.
Learner examples
She is petty about small mistakes.
Kicsinyesen viselkedik az apró hibák miatt.
He made a petty remark about my shoes.
Kicsinyes megjegyzést tett a cipőmre.
I do not like petty people.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'petty' with 'pretty' due to similar pronunciation; they are unrelated in meaning.
Meaning
Small-minded and mean-spirited
Collocations
petty argument
|petty behavior
|petty complaint
|petty jealousy
Synonyms
small-minded (Focuses on limited, narrow thinking, often without the emotional spite.)
|
mean-spirited (Emphasizes cruelty or nastiness rather than triviality.)
Antonyms
generous (Willing to forgive and focus on important matters rather than trivial issues.)
|
broad-minded (Open to different views and not concerned with small or unimportant faults.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
Definition
Acting in an unkind way about things that are not important.
Behaving in a mean-spirited or spiteful way about unimportant matters.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
petty [noun]
They argued over petty details instead of focusing on the main issue.
Jelentéktelen részleteken vitatkoztak ahelyett, hogy a fő kérdésre összpontosítottak volna.
The manager dismissed the complaint as petty.
A vezető jelentéktelennek minősítve elutasította a panaszt.
We shouldn't waste time on such petty matters.
Learner examples
This is a petty problem.
Ez jelentéktelen probléma.
They fight about petty things.
Jelentéktelen dolgokon veszekednek.
Do not worry about petty rules.
Meaning
Unimportant or minor
Collocations
petty details
|petty rules
|petty differences
Synonyms
trivial (Very close in meaning; often interchangeable.)
|
minor (Slightly broader, can apply to size, importance, or seriousness.)
Antonyms
important (Significant in value, meaning, or effect.)
|
major (Large in importance or seriousness.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not important; small in value or meaning.
Of little importance; trivial.
B2
3
kisebb súlyú
B2
apróbb
B1
Usage pattern:
petty [crime/offense/theft]
He was arrested for petty theft.
Kisebb értékű lopás miatt vették őrizetbe.
Petty crime has been on the rise in the city.
A városban nőtt az apróbb bűncselekmények száma.
The law treats petty offenses differently from felonies.
Learner examples
She went to jail for petty theft.
Kisebb értékű lopásért börtönbe került.
Petty crime is common here.
Itt gyakoriak az apróbb bűncselekmények.
He is guilty of a petty offense.
Meaning
Involving a minor crime or offense
Collocations
petty theft
|petty crime
|petty offender
Synonyms
minor (General term for lesser severity, not necessarily legal.)
|
misdemeanor (Legal term for a less serious crime.)
Antonyms
serious crime (A crime of great severity or harm.)
|
felony (Legal term for a major crime.)
Themes
law
Definition
About a small crime that is not very serious.
Relating to crimes or offenses that are not serious.
Grammar
Dictionary form
petty
IPA
GB/pˈɛti/
US/pˈɛti/
Syllables & stress
petty (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (petty)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: petty
- Comparative: pettier
- Superlative: pettiest
Word family
Forms
pettier
adjective
pettiest
adjective
Core family
pettiness
noun
Related words
pettily
adverb
Expressions
petty cash
1/pˈɛti kˈæʃ/
fixed phrase
Small fund for minor expenses
A small amount of money kept to pay for small things at work.
Examples
- The receptionist manages the petty cash for office supplies.
- We used the petty cash to buy coffee for the meeting.
petty officer
1/pˈɛti ˈɔfɪsɚ/
fixed phrase
Non-commissioned naval officer rank
A low-ranking officer in the navy or coast guard who is not in the highest group of officers.
Examples
- Her brother is a petty officer in the Navy.
- Petty officers often supervise junior sailors.