trifle

American  

[trahy-fuhl] / ˈtraɪ fəl /

noun

1. an article or thing of very little value.

   Synonyms:

   toy, bauble

2. a matter, affair, or circumstance of trivial importance or significance.

3. a small, inconsiderable, or trifling sum of money.

4. a small quantity or amount of anything; a little.

   She's still a trifle angry.

5. a literary, musical, or artistic work of a light or trivial character having no great or lasting merit; bagatelle.

6. a kind of pewter of medium hardness.

7. trifles, articles made of this.

8. English Cooking. a dessert usually consisting of custard and cake soaked in wine or liqueur, and jam, fruit, or the like.

---

verb (used without object)

trifled, trifling

1. to deal lightly or without due seriousness or respect.

   Don't trifle with me!

2. to play or toy by handling or fingering.

   He sat trifling with a pen.

3. to act or talk in an idle or frivolous way.

4. to pass time idly or frivolously; waste time; idle.

verb (used with object)

trifled, trifling

1. to pass or spend (time) idly or frivolously (usually followed byaway ).

   Synonyms:

   fritter

trifle British  

/ ˈtraɪfəl /

noun

1. a thing of little or no value or significance

2. a small amount; bit

   a trifle more enthusiasm

3. a cold dessert made with sponge cake spread with jam or fruit, soaked in wine or sherry, covered with a custard sauce and cream, and decorated

4. a type of pewter of medium hardness

5. articles made from this pewter

---

verb

1. to deal (with) as if worthless; dally

   to trifle with a person's affections

2. to waste (time) frivolously

Other Word Forms

• trifler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of trifle

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English tru ( f ) fle idle talk, deceit < Old French, variant of truf ( f ) e mockery, deceit; (v.) Middle English treoflen to mock < Old French trufler to make sport of

Explanation

A trifle is something that's totally unimportant. If your friend is freaking out over which poster to buy and you call her dilemma a trifle, you're saying she shouldn't get so worked up over nothing. Trifle comes from the Middle English trufle, meaning "fraud, joke, trick." You'll usually hear it used to mean "insignificant, trivial." If you write a little ditty to sing at a birthday party, you could say it's just a trifle. As a verb, trifle means "toy with, waste." If you play with someone's feelings without seriously meaning anything, you are trifling with his affection. Trifle is also a sweet, sticky cake. Don't trifle the day away dreaming about trifle. Make some!

Example Sentences

After years of working at the venue, the unlikely understudy took centre stage in the dame role of Sherie Trifle at the near sold-out performance.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

Leeman said that dessert at the celebration would be a Pitcairn take on the Platinum Jubilee Trifle.

From Reuters • Jun. 3, 2022

The triumphs and catastrophes of a multigenerational family dinner — presided over by the sisters Cheesecake, Cherry Pie and Trifle — receive play-by-play commentary from a pair of sportscasters perched above the action.

From New York Times • Jan. 8, 2015

Dessert includes a "Tayberry Trifle," accompanied by unpasteurized Wester Lawrenceton sweet milk cheese and organic Benbecula oatcakes.

From Time Magazine Archive

I think by the actions of all connected, that "Washington" was sometimes substituted for "Trifle"; this sign was hid away and only by accident found.

From Between the Lines Secret Service Stories Told Fifty Years After by Smith, Henry Bascom