Trivial
ˈtrɪviəl
Definitions
2 meaningsNot important; of little value or significance.
ˈtrɪviəl
Of little value or importance.
The problems they were dealing with seemed trivial to me.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're arguing with your sibling about who gets the last cookie. If it's not a big deal, like who gets the last one, it is a trivial matter.
👶 For kids: Something that is not important or not a big deal.
More Examples
Don't sweat the small, trivial things.
It was a trivial mistake, and easily fixed.
How It's Used
"The argument was over a trivial matter."
"Focusing on trivial details can be a waste of time."
Relating to or concerned with commonplace or ordinary things.
ˈtrɪviəl
Commonplace or ordinary.
The trivial nature of the task made it easy to complete.
💡 Simply: Think of something that everyone knows, like what year the first iPhone came out. It's a trivial piece of information that most people are aware of.
👶 For kids: Something that everyone knows or is not special.
More Examples
The news covered the trivial details of the celebrity's daily life.
This isn't about the trivial details but the bigger picture.
How It's Used
"In older literature, the term was sometimes used to describe something readily accessible or common."
Synonyms
Frivolous
Insignificant
Minor
Petty
Slight
Banal
Commonplace
Everyday
Mundane
Ordinary
Antonyms
Crucial
Important
Major
Serious
Significant
Substantial
Extraordinary
Remarkable
From Latin *trivialis* meaning "belonging to the crossroads" or "commonplace," derived from *trivium* meaning "place where three roads meet." The word originally referred to something that was common or easily accessible, hence of little importance.
Historically, 'trivial' was sometimes used in a broader sense to mean 'commonplace' or 'everyday,' often referring to knowledge readily accessible to anyone.
Memory tip
Think of a small pebble – it’s trivial compared to a mountain.