TrivialUnimportant or of little value; not worth serious attention. describes something that is unimportant, माम? small, or lacking real substanceThe real meaning, importance, or serious value of something.. It can also describe a person or mind that is focusedPaying attention closely to one subject or set of details. on unimportant things.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈtrɪviəl/
Easy pronunciation: TRIV-ee-uhl (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the first syllable.
Use this for the adjective meaning not important or serious.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Trivial Meaning
not important or serious
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: of little substance or significance
Example: The issue was trivial, so we moved on quickly.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- superficial — Can work for something lacking depth or substance, though it is not always interchangeable with trivial.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Trivial
Meaning 2
very minor or not worth much attention
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: (informal) small and of little importance
Example: It was a trivial mistake that didn’t affect the result.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- fiddling — Works for very small amounts or minor matters, especially in informal usage.
- footling — An informal word for something silly or unimportant; less common than trivial.
- little — Can mean small in amount or importance, but is broader and less precise than trivial.
- niggling — Fits minor but irritating details or problems.
- petty — Often means small and unimportant, but can also suggest being mean-spirited.
- picayune — Means very small or of little value; more formal and less common.
- piddling — An informal word for something tiny or insignificant.
- piffling — Informal and often dismissive, meaning very small or worthless.
Meaning 3
interested in unimportant details
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: concerned with trivialities
Example: He came across as a trivial man, always focused on gossip and small details.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Trivial Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- superficial
small and of little importance
- fiddling
- footling
- little
- niggling
- petty
- picayune
- piddling
- piffling
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use trivial for something small in size, but its main meaning is about low importance, not physical size.
- Trivial is not the same as petty: petty can imply being mean, spiteful, or overly concerned with minor things.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does trivial mean?
Trivial means not important, serious, or substantial. It can also describe something very small or minor.
What are some synonyms for trivial?
Good synonyms depend on the sense. For the main meaning, superficial is a close match. For minor things, words like petty, piddling, and picayune can work in the right context.
Is trivial a negative word?
Usually, yes. It often suggests that something does not matter much, or that someone is focused on unimportant things.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.