trivial

adjective

triv·​i·​al ˈtri-vē-əl 

1

a

: of little worth or importance

a trivial objection

trivial problems

b

: relating to or being the mathematically simplest case

specifically : characterized by having all variables equal to zero

a trivial solution to a linear equation

2

: commonplace, ordinary

3

: specific sense 4

trivialist

ˈtri-vē-ə-list 

noun

trivially

ˈtri-vē-ə-lē 

adverb

Did you know?

When English speakers adopted the word trivial from the Latin word trivialis in the 16th century, they used it to mean just what its Latin ancestor meant: "found everywhere, commonplace." But the source of trivialis is about something more specific: trivium, from tri- ("three") and via ("way"), means "crossroads; place where three roads meet." The link between the two presumably has to do with the commonplace sorts of things a person is likely to encounter at a busy crossroads. Today, the English word typically describes something barely worth mentioning. Such judgments are, of course, subjective; feel free to mention this bit of trivia to anyone and everyone who crosses your path.

Synonyms

• minor
• small
• little
• unimportant
• slight

Examples of trivial in a Sentence

His later memory, untutored and unsupported by anything so trivial as evidence or documents, now flourished and ran wild. —Muriel Spark, Curriculum Vitae, (1992) 1993

I had never heard anyone speak of their parents in this way; I never even knew you could make them seem trivial … —Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy, 1990

But the last tribute was to be a struggle among states for possession of the trivial remains of a man who in life had known as much revilement as honor. —Robert Penn Warren, Jefferson Davis Gets His Citizenship Back, 1980

statistics and other trivial matters

a trivial sum of money

Compared to her problems, our problems seem trivial.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her frustration only grew when M woke up and started yelling about something trivial. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Maybe autocracy starts with something as trivial as this. —John M. Crisp, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025

And as a starting point on more difficult subjects, as a way to get your bearings, to find good sources and begin exploration, Wikipedia is wonderful on almost any subject under the sun, from the trivial to the profound. —Jimmy Wales, Time, 28 Oct. 2025

This, of course, is trivial compared to the risk the Colorado River Basin’s shrinking snowpack poses to nearly every Southwest settlement, livelihood and life form that relies on its steady trickle downstream. —Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin trivialis found everywhere, commonplace, from trivium crossroads, from tri- + via way — more at way

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing trivial

• trivial name

Rhymes for trivial

• convivial
• nontrivial

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Kids Definition

trivial

adjective

triv·​i·​al ˈtriv-ē-əl 

1

: ordinary entry 2 sense 2, commonplace

2

: of little worth or importance : insignificant

a trivial mistake

trivially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

Etymology

from Latin trivialis "found everywhere, commonplace, trivial," from trivium "a place where three roads meet," from tri- "three" and via "way"

Word Origin

The words trivial and trivia can be traced back to the Latin noun trivium, meaning "a place where three roads meet." The Latin word was made from tri-, meaning "three," and via "way, road." The adjective form of trivium was trivialis. It was used to mean "common, ordinary." This sense probably developed from the notion that road junctions function as meeting places for people to exchange ordinary bits of news. In the 16th century, the adjective trivial came to be used in English with the same meaning. In time, this adjective also took on the sense of "of little worth or importance." This is its main meaning today. It wasn't until the 1920s that the word trivia began being used for "unimportant matters." This word is the plural form of the Latin word trivium.