Standard Lemma guide

pettifog

verb · 3 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈpɛt.iˌfɒɡ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To quibble over trivial matters; nitpick.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Don't pettifog or we will soon grow weary.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To do a petty business as a lawyer, or carry out law business in a petty or tricky way.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

argue over petty things

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Let's not quibble over pennies

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: quibble, niggle, bicker, squabble, brabble

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: argue, contend, debate, fence

History

Etymology

Back-formation from pettifogger.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: but see чопля (čoplja) — to quibble
  • Bulgarian: педантичен (pedantičen) — to quibble
  • Bulgarian: дребнав (drebnav) — to quibble
  • French: avocasser — to quibble