frivolity
noun
fri·vol·i·ty
fri-ˈvä-lə-tē 
plural frivolities
1
: the quality or state of being frivolous
He has no patience for frivolity.
2
: a frivolous act or thing
He spends money on the latest fashions and other frivolities.
Examples of frivolity in a Sentence
He has no patience for frivolity.
He spends money on the latest fashions and other frivolities.
Recent Examples on the Web
Much of Fleming’s delightful frivolity can be seen in their mishmashed resume.
—
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026
Comedies are often the also-rans; everyone wants to be taken seriously, and comedies—even the greatest of them, by the likes of Hawks, Preston Sturges, or Billy Wilder—are frequently treated as a frivolity.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Credit cards are not tools of frivolity.
—Matthew Kandrach, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Anya’s friends were the ones headed for the East Coast, some even to Ivy League schools, eager to leave behind the frivolity of Los Angeles.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frivolity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026
Comedies are often the also-rans; everyone wants to be taken seriously, and comedies—even the greatest of them, by the likes of Hawks, Preston Sturges, or Billy Wilder—are frequently treated as a frivolity.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Credit cards are not tools of frivolity.
—Matthew Kandrach, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Anya’s friends were the ones headed for the East Coast, some even to Ivy League schools, eager to leave behind the frivolity of Los Angeles.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frivolity
Cite this Entry
“Frivolity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frivolity. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
frivolity
noun
fri·vol·i·ty
friv-ˈäl-ət-ē
plural frivolities
1
: the quality or state of being frivolous
2
: a frivolous act or thing
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
