petty

Universal Words adjective (usually disapproving) 1 [usuallybeforenoun] small and unimportant: petty squabbles / restrictions * petty crime / theft (= that is not very serious) * a petty criminal / thief * a petty bureaucrat / official (= who does not have much power or authority) 2 concerned with small and unimportant matters, especially when this is unkind to other people: How could you be so petty? pettiness noun [U]