Phrase guide

petit maître

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A fop or dandy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: macaroni, popinjay, barbermonger, beau, blade, blood, buck, carpet knight, cockscomb, dandy, dike, dood, dude, dudelet, exquisite, fashionable, fast man, fine gentleman, fop, foretop, fribble, gallant, go, jack-a-dandy, Jemmy-Jessamy, jetter, masher, metrosexual, mignon, petit maître, pretty boy, prig, puss-gentleman, smart, spark, spiff, swell, tippy, toff

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A lesser master of something, especially of some artistic skill; a minor talent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From French petit-maître.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Russian: петиметр (petimetr) — Translations