trivial

UK: /ˈtrɪviəl/ US: /ˈtrɪviəl/ ,(triv′ē əl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

triv•i•al /ˈtrɪviəl/   adj. 

1. of or relating to trivia:
   He was overreacting to what was really a trivial offense on her part.

triv•i•al•i•ty /ˌtrɪviˈælɪti/  n., pl. -ties. [uncountable]

: the triviality of considering what clothes to wear after an earthquake.

[countable]

: the trivialities of daily living.

See -via-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

triv•i•al  (triv′ē əl), adj. 

1. of very little importance or value;
   insignificant:
   Don't bother me with trivial matters.
2. commonplace;
   ordinary.
3. Biology (of names of organisms) specific, as distinguished from generic.
4. Mathematics
   • noting a solution of an equation in which the value of every variable of the equation is equal to zero.
   • (of a theorem, proof, or the like) simple, transparent, or immediately evident.
5. Chemistry (of names of chemical compounds) derived from the natural source, or of historic origin, and not according to the systematic nomenclature:
   Picric acid is the trivial name of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol.

• Latin triviālis belonging to the crossroads or street corner, hence commonplace, equivalent. to tri- tri- + vi(a) road + -ālis -al¹
• late Middle English 1400–50

triv′i•al•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. unimportant, nugatory, slight, immaterial, inconsequential, frivolous, trifling. See petty. 

Antonyms

• 1. important.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

trivial / ˈtrɪvɪəl/ adjective

1. of little importance; petty or frivolous: trivial complaints
2. ordinary or commonplace; trite: trivial conversation
3. denoting the popular name of an organism or substance, as opposed to the scientific one
4. of or relating to the trivium

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin triviālis belonging to the public streets, common, from trivium crossroads, junction of three roads, from tri- + via road

ˈtrivially adverb

ˈtrivialness noun