pettypatent
nounUK /ˈpɛtiˌpeɪtənt/
US /ˈpɛtiˌpætənt/
A pettypatent is a small, silly rule that someone makes up to feel important.
The club president invented a pettypatent that said members must clap three times before speaking.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A tiny official-looking document that has no real power.
He waved his pettypatent around, but nobody had to listen to him.
3. The habit of making small, fussy rules about unimportant things.
Her pettypatent about pencil sharpening drove the whole office crazy.
4. A fake license or permit used to boss people around.
The playground guard showed a pettypatent and told the kids to line up.