trivial
5 synonyms and 5 antonyms for trivial, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Of little importance or significance.
Synonyms
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.
Antonyms
How to use trivial
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin triviālis, "commonplace," from trivium ("crossroads") — the same root as "trivia."
Full origin of trivial →Frequently asked questions
What does “trivial” mean?
The word “trivial” means of little importance or significance. In plain terms, unimportant, minor, or (in a different sense) very simple to do.
How do you pronounce “trivial”?
“Trivial” is pronounced TRIHV-ee-uhl (/ˈtɹɪv.i.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “trivial” in a sentence?
Here is “trivial” used in a sentence: “Don't waste time arguing over such a trivial detail.”
What is the opposite of “trivial”?
The opposite of “trivial” — its antonyms — are nontrivial, important, significant, radical and fundamental.
What part of speech is “trivial”?
“Trivial” is an adjective.
Where does the word “trivial” come from?
The word “trivial” comes from Latin. From Latin triviālis, "commonplace," from trivium ("crossroads") — the same root as "trivia.".
Is “trivial” a common word?
“Trivial” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “trivial” have?
“Trivial” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of little importance or significance.
What is the difference between trivial and minor?
Trivial describes something of very little importance or significance, often implying it barely matters at all, while minor simply means smaller in degree or scale compared to something else, without necessarily suggesting it is unimportant. A minor injury, for instance, can still require real attention, whereas a trivial detail is one that can safely be ignored.
What is the difference between trivial and easy?
Trivial can describe both something unimportant and something requiring very little effort or skill, so it overlaps with easy in that second sense. Easy focuses purely on the level of difficulty, while trivial often carries the added implication that the task is so simple it hardly deserves attention.
When is trivial used in mathematics or computing?
In mathematics and computing, trivial is often used to describe a problem, proof, or solution that requires very little effort or is obvious once stated, matching the sense of trivial meaning very easy. This technical use is common when describing simple special cases that need no elaborate reasoning.