HOW TO PRONOUNCE
picayune
/ˌpɪkəˈjun/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does picayune mean?
noun
- (figuratively, informal) A person regarded as unworthy of respect or useless; also, something of very little value; a trifle.
- (figuratively, informal) An argument, fact, or other issue raised (often intentionally) that distracts from a larger issue or fails to make any difference.
adjective
- (informal) Of little consequence; small and of little importance; petty, trivial.
More meanings (3)
adjective
- (informal) Childishly spiteful; tending to go on about unimportant things; small-minded.
noun
- (historical) 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.
- (archaic) A coin worth five cents (a nickel) or some other low value.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˌpɪkəˈjun/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
So he felt a moment; and then he smoked a cigar, and read the Picayune, and forgot his little gospel.
Learn to believe that Christ was given, not for picayune and imaginary transgressions, but for mountainous sins; not for one or two, but for all; not for sins that can be discarded, but for sins that are stubbornly ingrained.