trifle

1 of 3

noun (1)

tri·​fle ˈtrī-fəl 

1

: something of little value, substance, or importance

2

: a dessert typically consisting of plain or sponge cake often soaked with wine or spirits (such as brandy or rum) and topped with layers of preserves, custard, and cream

trifle

2 of 3

verb

trifled; trifling ˈtrī-f(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to treat someone or something as unimportant

b

: to talk in a jesting or mocking manner or with intent to delude or mislead

2

: to handle something idly

transitive verb

: to spend or waste in trifling or on trifles

trifler

ˈtrī-f(ə-)lər 

noun

trifler

3 of 3

noun (2)

tri·​fler -f(ə)lə(r) 

plural -s

: one that trifles

usually : a shallow frivolous person : idler

Phrases

a trifle

: to some small degree : slightly

a trifle annoyed

Synonyms of trifle

Noun (1)

• nothing
• triviality

Verb

• flirt

Choose the Right Synonym for trifle

trifle, toy, dally, flirt, coquet mean to deal with or act toward without serious purpose.

trifle may imply playfulness, unconcern, indulgent contempt.

to trifle with a lover's feelings

toy implies acting without full attention or serious exertion of one's powers.

a political novice toying with great issues

dally suggests indulging in thoughts or plans merely as an amusement.

dallying with the idea of building a boat someday

flirt implies an interest or attention that soon passes to another object.

flirted with one fashionable ism after another

coquet implies attracting interest or admiration without serious intention.

companies that coquet with environmentalism solely for public relations

Examples of trifle in a Sentence

Noun (1)

There's no reason to argue over such trifles.

The money is a mere trifle to me.

Verb

do not trifle with me unless you mean to ask me to marry you

spent a lazy afternoon trifling on the front porch

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Or its lazy gaze and obsession with gloss over lived-in texture, which sinks its moments of violence into forgettable trifles? — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

If making a trifle, assemble it the day before serving. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 24 June 2026

Verb

In the mid-19th century, the question was of trifling interest to mapmakers, who had far more than four colors at their disposal and saw no particular reason to restrict their palette. — Gregory Barber, Quanta Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026

But that still left the less-than-trifling matter of the second tier’s title to settle, as the teams were locked together on 97 points with one game still to play. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 1 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English trufle, trifle, from Anglo-French trufle, triffle fraud, trick, nonsense

Verb

Middle English truflen, triflen, from Anglo-French trufler to trick, talk nonsense

Noun (2)

Middle English, from triflen to trifle + -er

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1b

Phrases Containing trifle

• trifle with

Rhymes for trifle

• hyphal
• rifle
• stifle

Kids Definition

trifle

1 of 2 noun

tri·​fle ˈtrī-fəl 

1

: something of little value or importance

2

: a dessert of sponge cake spread with jam or jelly covered with a custard and whipped cream

trifle

2 of 2 verb

trifled; trifling -f(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to talk in a joking manner

b

: to treat someone or something as unimportant

2

: to waste (as time or money) in trifling or on trifles

3

: to handle something idly : toy

trifler

-f(ə-)lər 

noun