adj. (pettier, pettiest) 1 unimportant; trivial. 2 mean, small-minded; contemptible. 3 minor; inferior; on a small scale (petty princes). 4 Law (of a crime) of lesser importance (petty sessions) (cf. COMMON, GRAND). petty bourgeois = PETIT BOURGEOIS. petty bourgeoisie = petite bourgeoisie. petty cash money from or for small items of receipt or expenditure. petty jury a jury of 12 persons who try the final issue of fact in civil or criminal cases and pronounce a verdict. petty officer a naval NCO. petty treason see TREASON. pettily adv. pettiness n.
[ ME pety, var. of PETIT ]