What does triviality mean?
Triviality denotes the condition of being so unimportant, insignificant, or lacking in practical consequence that something can safely be ignored. It may name that quality as an uncountable noun, as in a criticism of the triviality of a distinction, or identify an individual insignificant detail, usually in the plural form “trivialities.” The word often appears in formal, intellectual, or literary contexts and commonly expresses the speaker's view that a subject has been given disproportionate attention. Calling something a triviality is therefore stronger and more pointed than simply describing it as minor or unimportant. Although the modern sense makes the word sound dismissive, its history is unexpectedly philosophical: its Latin ancestor was associated with the three parts of a logical syllogism. Over time, a specialized term for commonplace matters developed into a general word for anything lacking significance.
nounThe quality of being trivial, especially of a matter being unimportant or lacking significance. It can also refer to a detail or consideration regarded as insignificant.
- The quality of being unimportant, insignificant, or lacking practical significance.
- A detail, issue, or consideration regarded as unimportant or trivial.
"She dismissed the discrepancy as a triviality rather than allowing it to distract from the main issue."
"The committee devoted too much time to the trivialities of office procedure."
"What seemed at first a minor triviality developed into a matter of considerable importance."
"His objection was dismissed as a triviality."
The plural is used for individual details, issues, or matters considered insignificant. The uncountable form normally has no plural.
"The memoir is full of amusing trivialities about school life."
Triviality began with a philosophical system about three-part reasoning: a word meaning “threefold” eventually became our label for anything too small to matter.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does triviality come from?
The English noun was formed in the late sixteenth century from “trivial” and the suffix “-ity.” “Trivial” came through French from Latin trivialis, originally a logical term connected with trivus, meaning “three,” because it referred to the three terms of a syllogism. The sense developed from “commonplace or easily understood” to “unimportant or insignificant.” The same Latin root also underlies the English words trivial, trivially, and trivialize.
Related word forms
How triviality is actually used
The noun is formal or literary and often conveys criticism or dismissal. It is used both as an uncountable noun for the quality of being insignificant and as a countable noun for an individual insignificant detail; the countable form is usually plural.