adj
petit
PEH-tee
adj
1
Small or minor in scale or importance (often used in legal or formal phrases).
"The offense was classed as petit larceny rather than a felony."
"A petit jury decides the facts of a single case, unlike a grand jury."
How to Use Petit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slightly old-fashioned or legal word meaning small or minor, mostly surviving in set phrases like "petit jury" and "petit larceny."
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "petite," which describes a person's small, slim build — "petit" is the masculine/general legal form.
Word Forms
more petit comparative, petits plural, most petit superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “petit”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The offense was classed as _____ larceny rather than a felony.
Etymology
From Old French petit, "small" — the same root that gives English "petty" and "petite."