What does paltry mean?
Paltry is an adjective describing something so small, inadequate, or trivial that it deserves contempt or seems unworthy of serious attention. Its strongest common use is with words such as sum, amount, contribution, and compensation, as in a reference to a meager payment that is inadequate or insulting. It can also describe excuses, efforts, or achievements as feeble and beneath consideration. Because paltry carries a strong negative judgment, it is more forceful than simply saying that something is small: it suggests that the thing is not merely modest but disappointingly inadequate. The word is used in both British and American English and is especially common in journalism, legal and financial reporting, and editorial criticism.
adjectiveDenoting an amount or quality that is meager, inadequate, or unworthy of serious consideration. It can also describe something contemptibly trivial or mean.
- Meager or inadequate in amount, quality, or value.
- Contemptibly trivial, petty, or unworthy of consideration.
"The charity offered only a paltry sum to the families affected by the disaster."
"The company was fined a paltry amount that barely reflected the seriousness of the violation."
"His paltry excuses revealed how little responsibility he was willing to accept."
A paltry amount is not merely small: the word carries the stronger implication that the amount is too meager to be taken seriously.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Related word forms
How paltry is actually used
The term is strongly evaluative and commonly conveys disapproval. It is especially frequent in formal reporting and editorial writing about sums, contributions, efforts, excuses, and achievements.
Easily confused with paltry
A paltry amount or achievement is insignificant or inadequate, rather than merely pathetic or poor in quality.
A pantry is a storage room or cabinet for food, whereas a paltry thing is of meager or unworthy size or value.