trivial

adjective

triv·​i·​al ˈtri-vē-əl 

1

a

: of little worth or importance

a trivial objection

trivial problems

b

: relating to or being the mathematically simplest case

specifically : characterized by having all variables equal to zero

a trivial solution to a linear equation

2

: commonplace, ordinary

3

: specific sense 4

trivialist

ˈtri-vē-ə-list 

noun

trivially

ˈtri-vē-ə-lē 

adverb

Did you know?

When English speakers adopted the word trivial from Latin trivialis in the 16th century, they used it to mean just what its Latin ancestor meant: "found everywhere, commonplace." But the source of trivialis is about something more specific: trivium, from tri- (three) and via (way), means "crossroads; place where three roads meet." The link between the two presumably has to do with the commonplace sorts of things a person is likely to encounter at a busy crossroads. Today, the English word typically describes something barely worth mentioning. Such judgments are, of course, subjective; feel free to mention this bit of trivia to anyone and everyone who crosses your path.

Did you know?

Trivial comes from a Latin word meaning "crossroads"—that is, where three roads come together. Since a crossroads is a very public place where all kinds of people might show up, trivialis came to mean "commonplace" or "vulgar." Today the English word has changed slightly in meaning and instead usually describes something barely worth mentioning. Mathematicians use the word to refer to the mathematically simplest case, but the rest of us tend to use it just to mean "unimportant." "Small talk" at a party, for example, is usually trivial conversation. To trivialize something is to treat it as if it doesn't matter, as if it is just another triviality.

Synonyms

• fiddling
• foolish
• frivolous
• incidental
• inconsequential
• inconsiderable
• insignificant
• little
• Mickey Mouse
• minor
• minute
• negligible
• nugatory
• slight
• small
• small-fry
• trifling
• unimportant

Examples of trivial in a Sentence

His later memory, untutored and unsupported by anything so trivial as evidence or documents, now flourished and ran wild. —Muriel Spark, Curriculum Vitae, (1992) 1993

I had never heard anyone speak of their parents in this way; I never even knew you could make them seem trivial … —Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy, 1990

But the last tribute was to be a struggle among states for possession of the trivial remains of a man who in life had known as much revilement as honor. —Robert Penn Warren, Jefferson Davis Gets His Citizenship Back, 1980

statistics and other trivial matters

a trivial sum of money

Compared to her problems, our problems seem trivial.

Recent Examples on the Web

Coined as far back as 1854 by Henry David Thoreau in Walden, the idea of mental deterioration from trivial distractions has never been more relevant. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

In Africa, businesses like Abubakar’s keep countless tons of toxic trash out of landfills, reduce the need for mining, and create thousands of jobs—hardly a trivial consideration in a nation where nearly two-thirds of people live in poverty. —Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024

Casting actors to make a film in secret (at the risk of jail time or worse) is no trivial task. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024

And some promises, such as Biden’s grand goal to help change America’s diet, have been approached more like trivial pursuits. —Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin trivialis found everywhere, commonplace, from trivium crossroads, from tri- + via way — more at way

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing trivial

• trivial name

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

trivial

adjective

triv·​i·​al ˈtriv-ē-əl 

1

: ordinary entry 2 sense 2, commonplace

2

: of little worth or importance : insignificant

a trivial mistake

trivially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

Etymology

from Latin trivialis "found everywhere, commonplace, trivial," from trivium "a place where three roads meet," from tri- "three" and via "way"

Word Origin

The words trivial and trivia can be traced back to the Latin noun trivium, meaning "a place where three roads meet." The Latin word was made from tri-, meaning "three," and via "way, road." The adjective form of trivium was trivialis. It was used to mean "common, ordinary." This sense probably developed from the notion that road junctions function as meeting places for people to exchange ordinary bits of news. In the 16th century, the adjective trivial came to be used in English with the same meaning. In time, this adjective also took on the sense of "of little worth or importance." This is its main meaning today. It wasn't until the 1920s that the word trivia began being used for "unimportant matters." This word is the plural form of the Latin word trivium.