trivial
TRIHV-ee-uhl
Trivial (adjective) means of little importance or significance. Example: “Don't waste time arguing over such a trivial detail.”
adjective
1
Of little importance or significance.
"Don't waste time arguing over such a trivial detail."
"It seemed like a trivial mistake at first, but it caused real problems."
"Whether the sandwiches are cut in squares or triangles is a trivial matter."
2
Very easy; requiring little effort or skill.
"For an expert programmer, fixing that bug was trivial."
"Once you know the formula, the calculation is trivial."
"Changing a light bulb is trivial, so even a child could do it."
How to use trivial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnimportant, minor, or (in a different sense) very simple to do.
Common pairings
a trivial matter
trivial detail
far from trivial
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Word forms
- Plural
- trivials
- Comparative
- more trivial
- Superlative
- most trivial
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Don't waste time arguing over such a _____ detail.
Etymology
From Latin triviālis, "commonplace," from trivium ("crossroads") — the same root as "trivia."
Synonyms
View more →
insignificant
negligible
petty
unimportant
inconsequential
footling
picayune
niggling
lilliputian
little
piddling
fiddling
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for trivial
See all rhymes for 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.
