pettifog

verb

pet·​ti·​fog
ˈpetēˌfäg,
-etē-,
-fȯg
pettifogged; pettifogged; pettifogging; pettifogs

intransitive verb

1
: to engage in legal chicanery
2
: to quibble over insignificant details : cavil, bicker

transitive verb

: to plead (as a case) with legal chicanery

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from pettifogger

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Dictionary Entries Near pettifog

petties

pettifog

pettifogger

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Cite this Entry

“Pettifog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pettifog. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

pettifog

verb
pet·​ti·​fog
ˈpet-ē-ˌfȯg,
-ˌfäg
pettifogged; pettifogging
1
: to engage in legal trickery
2
: to argue about unimportant details : bicker
pettifogger noun
pettifoggery
-ˌfȯg-(ə-)rē
-ˌfäg-
noun
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