trivial
Americanadjective
-
of very little importance or value; insignificant.
Don't bother me with trivial matters.
- Synonyms:
- trifling, frivolous, inconsequential, immaterial, slight, nugatory, unimportant
- Antonyms:
- important
-
commonplace; ordinary.
-
Biology. (of names of organisms) specific, as distinguished from generic.
-
Mathematics.
-
noting a solution of an equation in which the value of every variable of the equation is equal to zero.
-
(of a theorem, proof, or the like) simple, transparent, or immediately evident.
-
-
Chemistry. (of names of chemical compounds) derived from the natural source, or of historic origin, and not according to the systematic nomenclature.
Picric acid is the trivial name of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol.
adjective
-
of little importance; petty or frivolous
trivial complaints
-
ordinary or commonplace; trite
trivial conversation
-
maths (of the solutions of a set of homogeneous equations) having zero values for all the variables
-
biology denoting the specific name of an organism in binomial nomenclature
-
biology chem denoting the popular name of an organism or substance, as opposed to the scientific one
-
of or relating to the trivium
Synonym Usage
See petty.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of trivial
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin triviālis “belonging to the crossroads or street corner,” hence “commonplace,” equivalent to tri- “three” + vi(a) “road” + -ālis adjective suffix; see tri-, -al 1
Explanation
Something that is trivial is not important or significant, such as the trivial details you shared with me about your trip to the post office this morning. Trivial can also describe something that isn't deep or meaningful, like a trivial movie that you'll forget about after the credits roll. It comes from the Latin word trivium: tri means "three" and via is "road." So a trivium is a "place where three roads meet," meaning a crossroads — just something ordinary. So something that is trivial is not worth remembering; it just isn't important.
Vocabulary lists containing trivial
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
ACT Vocabulary List
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He needs to be in control of a situation, no matter how trivial it is.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026
It followed what she called a "trivial argument" at their home in the south of Glasgow in July 2025.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
Euphemisms aren’t just trivial ways of communicating online.
From Salon • May 8, 2026
"There is some compensation occurring in larger insects, but it is trivial in the grand scheme of things."
From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026
They were hard to tell apart; their emotional tone seemed always low, their talk trivial.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
