picayune Meaning & Definition
What Does Picayune Mean?
As a noun, picayune means A small coin of the value of six-and-a-quarter cents; a Spanish coin with a value of half a real; a fippenny bit. It is also used to mean A coin worth five cents (a nickel) or some other low value. As an adjective, it means Of little consequence; small and of little importance; petty, trivial. As an adjective, it means Petty, trivial; of little consequence; small and of little importance.
Picayune: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun, adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˌpɪkəˈjuːn// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | trivial, petty and little |
| Plural | picayunes |
| Comparative / superlative | more picayune, most picayune |
Picayune Definition (Noun)
- A small coin of the value of six-and-a-quarter cents; a Spanish coin with a value of half a real; a fippenny bit.
- A coin worth five cents (a nickel) or some other low value.
- A person regarded as unworthy of respect or useless; also, something of very little value; a trifle.
:
- An argument, fact, or other issue raised (often intentionally) that distracts from a larger issue or fails to make any difference.
Picayune as an Adjective
- Of little consequence; small and of little importance; petty, trivial.
- Childishly spiteful; tending to go on about unimportant things; small-minded.
Noun
- A small coin of the value of six-and-a-quarter cents; a fippenny bit.
- A five-cent piece.
- Something of very little value; a trifle.
- An argument, fact, corner case, or other issue raised (often intentionally) that distracts from a larger issue at hand or fails to make any difference.
Adjective
- Petty, trivial; of little consequence; small and of little importance.
- Small-minded; childishly spiteful, tending to go on about unimportant things.
Synonyms of Picayune
Antonyms of Picayune
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Picayune in a Sentence
:
Word Forms & Grammar
picayune (plural picayunes)
picayune (comparative more picayune, superlative most picayune)
Words That Rhyme With Picayune
Origin of Picayune
Origin 1: The noun is borrowed from southern French picaillon, pécaillon, picayon (“type of small foreign coin; (informal, especially in the plural) cash, money”), and from its etymon Occitan picalhon, picaioun (“cheaply made Savoyan-Piedmontese coin that was rapidly demonetized; (by extension) cash, money”), probably from Occitan piquar (“to ring (bells); to knock, strike”) (referring to the clinking of coins in a pocket), originally imitative.[1]
Origin 2: The adjective is derived from the noun.
Pronouncing Picayune
Picayune is pronounced //ˌpɪkəˈjuːn// and has 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Picayune
Is picayune a noun or an adjective?
Picayune is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as an adjective.
What is another word for picayune?
You can replace picayune with words such as trivial, petty and little. See the full list of picayune synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of picayune?
The plural of picayune is picayunes.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of picayune?
The comparative form is more picayune and the superlative form is most picayune.