paltry

adjective

pal·​try ˈpȯl-trē How to pronounce paltry (audio)
paltrier; paltriest
1
: inferior, trashy
built paltry houses unfit for occupancy
2
: mean, despicable
a paltry trick
3
: trivial
a paltry excuse
they in their greatness don't have to bother with such paltry restrictionsVanessa Feltz
4
: meager, measly
made a paltry donation
Sales have increased by a paltry two percent.
paltriness noun

Did you know?

Before "paltry" was an adjective, it was a noun meaning "trash." That now obsolete noun in turn came from "palt" or "pelt," dialect terms meaning "a piece of coarse cloth," or broadly, "trash." The adjective "paltry" first meant "trashy," but currently has a number of senses, all generally meaning "no good." A "paltry house" might be run-down and unfit for occupancy; a "paltry trick" is a trick that is low-down and dirty; a "paltry excuse" is a trivial one; and a "paltry sum" is small and insufficient.

Examples of paltry in a Sentence

a paltry, underhanded scheme to get someone fired the hotel's shabby, outdated exercise room was its paltry attempt at a health spa
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Also, the state mandates free and reduced fares of $150 million annually but provides a paltry reimbursement of $20 million. Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025 This is one of the few times Samsung isn’t running an enhanced trade-in price promotion for its Galaxy S25, with the Note 20 Ultra fetching a paltry $180 and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra being valued at $155. Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025 Meanwhile, advocates are watching closely, concerned that the wrong move could result in a fallout that decimates Connecticut’s paltry infant and toddler care system, supports too-few households, or depends on a source of money that is vulnerable to shifting economic winds. Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025 The Blue Jackets have just a paltry three points in their last nine games. Sean McIndoe, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for paltry

Word History

Etymology

obsolete paltry trash, from dialect palt, pelt piece of coarse cloth, trash; akin to Middle Low German palte rag

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paltry was in 1565

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Cite this Entry

“Paltry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paltry. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

paltry

adjective
pal·​try ˈpȯl-trē How to pronounce paltry (audio)
paltrier; paltriest
1
: petty sense 3, mean
a paltry trick
2
: trivial sense 2, worthless
a paltry sum
paltriness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on paltry

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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