Definition of "petty" []

• Of small importance; trivial: a petty grievance. (adjective)
• Marked by narrowness of mind, ideas, or views. (adjective)
• Marked by meanness or lack of generosity, especially in trifling matters. (adjective)
• Secondary in importance or rank; subordinate. See Synonyms at trivial. (adjective)
• Law Variant of petit. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Which of us, in fact, has the force of character to be superior to petty vanity, to _petty fine feelings_, sympathy and self-reproach? ..."
• "As Democratic presidential frontrunners Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton got personal in last night's debate, John Edwards said he tried to stay away from what he called petty bickering."
• "HENRY: The clarification came after Maliki lashed out at what he called petty politics from the American administration."