petty
pet·ty/ˈpɛt.i/adjective, noun
petty is spelled P-E-T-T-Y: 5 letters and 2 syllables (pet·ty). It appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,347th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a derogatory adjective, petty means “Having little or no importance” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in petty?
| Letters | 5: P-E-T-T-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: pet·ty |
| In writing | 12 times per million words; the 6,347th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is petty?
Petty appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,347th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce petty?
- UK /ˈpɛt.i/
- US /ˈpɛt.i/
- US [ˈpʰɛɾ.i]
Petty has 2 syllables, split pet·ty in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-petty.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with petty?
4 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as petty from its last stressed vowel (/ɛti/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of petty
- pettier comparative
- more petty comparative
- pettiest superlative
- most petty superlative
- petties plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does petty mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
derogatoryHaving little or no importance.
a petty fault petty squabbles
- 2
derogatoryOf persons or their behaviour: marked by or reflective of undesirably limited interests, sympathies, or views; begrudging, selfish, small-minded; also, preoccupied with subjects having little or no importance and not mindful of broader concerns.
Such literature may well be anathema to those who are too docile and petty for their own good.
- 3
derogatoryinformalInclined to cause frustration or annoyance to others out of spite over minor grievances; extremely vindictive.
My cousin is so petty–I forgot his birthday and he's been making snarky comments all week.
- 4
Of or relating to the lowest grade or level of school; junior, primary.
- 5
Little or small in size.
- 6
Secondary in importance or rank; minor, subordinate.
petty cash petty officer
noun
- 1
informalAn outbuilding used as a lavatory; an outhouse, a privy.
- 2
A class or school for young schoolboys.
- 3
obsoleteA little schoolboy, either in grade or size.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Petty in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| Spanish | quinqui, merchero, de pitiminí, nimio , mezquino, picón |
| French | petit, insignifiant, mesquin |
| German | gering, geringfügig, klein, kleinlich, unbedeutend, unwichtig |
| Portuguese | fútil, insignificante, pequeno, mesquinho |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does petty come from?
The adjective is derived from Middle English peti, pety (“little, small; minor”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman petit, Middle French petit, and Old French peti, petit, pitet (“young; little, small; inferior; insignificant”) (modern French petit), ultimately of imitative origin. It is no longer thought that the word is derived from Celtic. Doublet of petit and petite. The noun is derived from the adjective.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).