Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pettifog

/ˈpɛt.iˌfɒɡ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.04 in modern English

Syllables: pet-ti-fog
IPA: /ˈpɛt.iˌfɒɡ/

14

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To quibble over trivial matters; nitpick.

Intransitive verb

verb

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

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"Don't pettifog or we will soon grow weary."
"[Deacon Mushrat to Pogo:] The Machiavellian barratry of a pettifogging public has maundered into do-nothingism."
"He is a common barreter for his pleasure, that takes no money, but pettifogs gratis."

Etymology

Back-formation from pettifogger.

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈpɛt.iˌfɒɡ/

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

pettifogs (present, singular) pettifogging (participle, present) pettifogged (participle, past) pettifogged (past)

Derived Forms

pettifogulize

Frequently Paired Words

pettifogger

Synonyms

squabble quibble niggle bicker brabble

Questions

How do you pronounce pettifog?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpɛt.iˌfɒɡ/.
What does pettifog mean?: To quibble over trivial matters; nitpick.
Where does pettifog come from?: Back-formation from pettifogger.

How to pronounce pettifog

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pettifog”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpɛt.iˌfɒɡ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pettifog”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pettifog” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.