trifle
20 synonyms and 0 antonyms for trifle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A British dessert layered with sponge cake, custard, fruit, jelly, and whipped cream.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use trifle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French trufle, related to truffe ("deception"); the origin beyond that is uncertain.
Full origin of trifle →Frequently asked questions
What does “trifle” mean?
The word “trifle” means a British dessert layered with sponge cake, custard, fruit, jelly, and whipped cream. In plain terms, either the layered dessert, or a small, unimportant thing — as a verb, to treat something carelessly or toy with it.
How do you pronounce “trifle”?
“Trifle” is pronounced TREYE-fuhl (/ˈtɹaɪfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “trifle” in a sentence?
Here is “trifle” used in a sentence: “Grandma always makes a sherry trifle at Christmas.”
What is another word for “trifle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “trifle” include bagatelle, bag of shells, bric-a-brac, dicky, dicky-bird and fico.
What part of speech is “trifle”?
Depending on how it is used, “trifle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “trifle” come from?
The word “trifle” comes from Old French. From Old French trufle, related to truffe ("deception"); the origin beyond that is uncertain.
How many meanings does “trifle” have?
“Trifle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a British dessert layered with sponge cake, custard, fruit, jelly, and whipped cream.