pettiness

[ pet-ee-nis ]

noun

1. the quality or condition of being of little, lesser, or no importance, consequence, or merit; insignificance:

   The economic cost of these wildfires pales into pettiness when compared to the real victims—the wildlife and the natural landscape.

   The film is a comedy about the boredom, pettiness, and general strangeness of working in an office, as the protagonists spend their days plotting a way out of their dull and meaningless jobs.

2. the quality or condition of having or expressing limited ideas, interests, etc.; narrow-mindedness:

   The novel is set against a background of small-town deceit and pettiness.

3. the quality or condition of being unkind, stingy, or ungenerous, especially in small or trifling things; meanspiritedness:

   Their pettiness is perhaps best demonstrated by the threatened removal of an assortment of services provided to residents—things like fresh fruit, free coffee, and a monthly outing.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pettiness¹

petty ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

“Or is the second administration going to be just purely about vengeance and pettiness?”

From Los Angeles Times

A maddening combination of good intentions and self-destructive tendencies — accommodating sensitivity and unforgivable pettiness — Vicente has a sharp mind for math, physics and astronomy that he loves sharing with his daughters.

From Los Angeles Times

The power of plutocratic pettiness came into focus during the Obama years, when many wealthy financiers were enraged by a president who, objectively, hadn’t done anything to deserve it.

From Seattle Times

On the flip side, I do also understand the pettiness of the Tottenham fans who do not want Arsenal to win the title.

From BBC

“There was no macho profanity. There was no agenda. There was no pettiness. There was no gossip. It was, ‘How do we get to make the best decision for the best reason?’

From Seattle Times