triviality

American  

[triv-ee-al-i-tee] / ˌtrɪv iˈæl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

trivialities

1. something trivial; a trivial matter, affair, remark, etc..

   cocktail conversation marked by trivialities.

2. Also trivialness trivial quality or character.

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triviality British  

/ ˌtrɪvɪˈælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being trivial

2. something, such as a remark, that is trivial

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Other Word Forms

• nontriviality noun

Etymology

Origin of triviality

First recorded in 1590–1600; trivial + -ity

Explanation

Triviality is a quality of being unimportant or insignificant. You might dislike most reality TV shows because of their triviality, preferring to watch documentaries about serious subjects. You can also use the word triviality to mean an unimportant detail: "Let's discuss world peace instead of focusing on trivialities like what's for lunch or which celebrities are getting divorced!" It comes from the Latin word trivium, which means "commonplace," but also "crossroads." Literally, it's a combination of tri, or "three," and via, "road." Hence, a trivium is an oh-so-ordinary "place where three roads meet."

Example Sentences

You expect a terse “fine,” so you may proceed to some other triviality like sports or the weather.

From Salon • Sep. 1, 2025

She honored those traces even as she ironically nailed their indefensible triviality.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2024

Carlson’s seeming awareness of the triviality of his topic is all part of the deal, Peck says, tracing the roots of his attitude to the network’s earliest days.

From Washington Post • Jan. 23, 2023

Sentimentality about the power of cinema — to raise awareness, expand empathy, confront the truth, change the world — mirrors a cynicism that insists on cinema’s triviality.

From New York Times • Dec. 22, 2022

Every question Saget threw at him, he tossed aside, as if it were a triviality.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell