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.

Synonyms

• facetiousness
• flightiness
• flippancy
• frivolousness
• frothiness
• levity
• light-headedness
• light-mindedness
• lightness
• silliness

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

After a couple of hours of gentle frivolity, the real London is back. —Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

So often, there's a silliness or frivolity associated with it. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025

As serious as the overwhelming majority of the show is, there’s the fresh frivolity of the Thenardiers (Victoria Huston-Elem and Matt Crowle). —Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Mar. 2025

As serious as the overwhelming majority of the show is, there’s the fresh frivolity of the Thenardiers (Victoria Huston-Elem and Matt Crowle). —Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see frivolous

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for frivolity

• causality
• equality
• sodality
• inequality
• jollity
• polity
• quality

Kids 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