Trivial Definition, Examples, and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：of little importance (trivial)

trivial 🔊

/ˈtrɪviəl/

adj.

Of little importance or value; not worth worrying about.

Trivial purchases on a long supermarket receipt close-up

of little importance 🔊

➕

/əv ˈlɪtl ɪmˈpɔːrtəns/

adj.

Referring to something that is small and not significant, often not worth spending time or attention on.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'trivialis' (commonplace) < 'trivium' (crossroads: tri- + via).

💡 Mnemonic

Tri (three) + via (road) = a trivial detail at a three-way intersection, easy to ignore.

📖 Example

Don‘t waste time on the trivial details, like adjusting the font size, when the overall design of the presentation is still not ready. 🔊 Don‘t waste time on the trivial details, like adjusting the font size, when the overall design of the presentation is still not ready.

🔗 Collocations

trivial matter – a small, unimportant issue

trivial detail – a minor and insignificant piece of information

trivial problem – a problem that is easy to solve or not worth solving

🔄 Synonyms

insignificant (adj.) – having little or no importance or value

minor (adj.) – lesser in importance, size, or degree

negligible (adj.) – so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering

🚫 Antonyms

important (adj.) – of great significance or value

significant (adj.) – sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention

crucial (adj.) – decisive or critical in determining the outcome

🌱 Derivatives

triviality (n.) – the quality or state of being trivial

trivialize (v.) – to make something seem less important or serious than it really is

trivially (adv.) – in a trivial manner

📖 Cultural Story

Latin 'trivium' (three roads meeting) meant a common public place; later 'trivial' came to mean 'ordinary' and then 'insignificant'.