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⇱ pettifogging - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

pettifogging

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈpɛtifɒgɪŋ/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(pet′ē fog′ing, -fô′ging)

From the verb pettifog: (⇒ conjugate)
pettifogging is: ⓘClick the infinitive to see all available inflections
v pres p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pet•ti•fog•ging  (pet′ē fog′ing, -fô′ging),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. insignificant;
    petty:pettifogging details.
  2. dishonest or unethical in insignificant matters;
    meanly petty.
  • see pettifog, -ing2 1570–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
pettifogging /ˈpɛtɪˌfɒɡɪŋ/ adj
  1. petty: pettifogging details
  2. mean; quibbling: pettifogging lawyers
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pet•ti•fog /ˈpɛtiˌfɑg, -ˌfɔg/USA pronunciation   v. [no object], -fogged, -fog•ging. 
  1. to raise objections about small, unimportant matters.
pet•ti•fog•ger, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pet•ti•fog  (pet′ē fog′, -fôg′),USA pronunciation v.i., -fogged, -fog•ging. 
  1. to bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters.
  2. to carry on a petty, shifty, or unethical law business.
  3. to practice chicanery of any sort.
  • Middle Low German voger or Middle Dutch voeger one who arranges things; akin to Old English gefōg a joining
  • back formation from pettifogger, equivalent. to petty + fogger 1605–15
pet′ti•fog′ger, n. 
pet′ti•fog′ger•y, n. 
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