First Known Use: 1589
Dictionary
trivial
adjective triv·i·al \ˈtri-vē-əl\
: not important
Full Definition of TRIVIAL
1
2
a : of little worth or importance <a trivial objection> <trivial problems> b : relating to or being the mathematically simplest case; specifically : characterized by having all variables equal to zero <a trivial solution to a linear equation>
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Examples of TRIVIAL
- His later memory, untutored and unsupported by anything so trivial as evidence or documents, now flourished and ran wild. —Muriel Spark, Curriculum Vitae, (1992) 1993
- I had never heard anyone speak of their parents in this way; I never even knew you could make them seem trivial… —Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy, 1990
- But the last tribute was to be a struggle among states for possession of the trivial remains of a man who in life had known as much revilement as honor. —Robert Penn Warren, Jefferson Davis Gets His Citizenship Back, 1980
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Origin of TRIVIAL
Latin trivialis found everywhere, commonplace, from trivium crossroads, from tri- + via way — more at way
Related to TRIVIAL
- Synonyms
- fiddling, foolish, frivolous, incidental, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, Mickey Mouse, minor, minute, negligible, nugatory, slight, small, small-fry, trifling, unimportant
- Antonyms
- big, consequential, eventful, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, unfrivolous, weighty
TRIVIALIST Defined for Kids
trivial
adjective triv·i·al \ˈtri-vē-əl\
Definition of TRIVIAL for Kids
: of little worth or importance <Don't get angry about trivial matters.>
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