frivolous
Americanadjective
-
characterized by lack of seriousness or sense.
frivolous conduct.
-
self-indulgently carefree; unconcerned about or lacking any serious purpose.
-
(of a person) given to trifling or undue levity.
a frivolous, empty-headed person.
- Antonyms:
- serious
-
of little or no weight, worth, or importance; not worthy of serious notice.
a frivolous suggestion.
- Antonyms:
- weighty
adjective
-
not serious or sensible in content, attitude, or behaviour; silly
a frivolous remark
-
unworthy of serious or sensible treatment; unimportant
frivolous details
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of frivolous
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin frīvolus “worthless, trifling”; see -ous
Explanation
Frivolous things are silly or unnecessary. If something is frivolous, then you don't need it. Frivolous things are goofy, useless, or just plain dumb. The word is often used to describe lawsuits. A frivolous lawsuit has no value and will be a waste of the court's time. If someone is frivolous, that person shouldn't be taken seriously because he's always fooling around and never gets anything done. Frivolous is pretty much the opposite of essential.
Vocabulary lists containing frivolous
Grade 10, List 1
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"The Monkey's Paw," Vocabulary from the short story
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Little Women
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Brian will have to pay filing costs and, if the judge did find that he took a frivolous case, he could, in theory, be held liable for Adam’s legal fees, too.
From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026
They take our data, our time and our attention, and then turn around and monetize it, selling it for profit to ensure that we continue to fund their wives’ frivolous trips into space.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
New Jersey was once a favorite legal home for corporations, but Delaware supplanted it by establishing specialized business courts and legal rules that protect corporate directors and officers from frivolous lawsuits.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
Fox’s legal theory is not frivolous, but it is far from a slam dunk.
From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026
Unlike the frivolous goings-on in Paris or New York, though, the cabaret style of Weimar Berlin had a deadly serious undertow.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
