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Meaning & use

pettifoggers

noun·Advanceddisapprovingformal

Last updated

UK/ˈpetɪfɒɡəz/
US/ˈpetɪfɔːɡərz/

“pettifoggers” is a form of “pettifogger”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. nounpluraldisapprovingformal

    lawyers who deal with small, unimportant cases or who argue about trivial details.

    Grammar: This is the plural form; the singular is 'pettifogger'. Use it to talk about more than one such lawyer.

    Patterns

    • a group of pettifoggers
    • the pettifoggers in the firm

    The judge dismissed the case as the work of pettifoggers who wasted the court's time.

    Local pettifoggers often handle minor disputes that never reach a higher court.

    He complained that the pettifoggers were more interested in fees than in justice.

  2. nounpluraldisapprovingfigurative

    people who argue about small, unimportant matters in a way that annoys others.

    Grammar: Used figuratively, not only for lawyers. The singular is 'pettifogger'.

    Patterns

    • political pettifoggers
    • a debate full of pettifoggers

    The meeting turned into a shouting match between pettifoggers who cared only about scoring points.

    She had no patience for the pettifoggers in the committee who questioned every tiny expense.

    These pettifoggers delay every decision with endless objections.

Word forms

singularpettifogger

Common combinations

a pair of pettifoggers
A pair of pettifoggers took on the case and dragged it out for months.
political pettifoggers
The newspaper criticized the political pettifoggers for avoiding the real issues.
legal pettifoggers
Legal pettifoggers often handle small claims and traffic violations.
dismiss someone as a pettifogger
The senior lawyer dismissed him as a pettifogger who never took on serious cases.

Synonyms and how they differ

shyster
Shyster is a stronger insult and suggests dishonesty, while pettifogger focuses on small-mindedness or unimportant cases.
quibbler
A quibbler argues about tiny details in general; a pettifogger does so especially in legal or formal contexts.
nitpicker
Nitpicker is informal and means someone who complains about very small mistakes; pettifogger is formal and often tied to law.

Word family

pettifog verb
To argue about small, unimportant things or to act as a pettifogger.
pettifoggery noun
The practice of arguing about trivial matters or handling small legal cases.
pettifogging adjective
Describing behavior that is overly concerned with small details or minor legal matters.

Commonly confused: pettifoggers or petty?

pettifoggers vs petty

Petty means 'small or unimportant' and is an adjective; pettifogger is a noun for a person who deals with petty matters.

Practice

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