What does trivially mean?
Trivially means in a way that is trivial, insignificant, or easily dismissed. It is commonly used to describe differences or problems that appear too slight to matter, as in “trivially different,” and to describe tasks that are very easy, as in “trivially simple.” The word can therefore suggest either that something has little practical importance or that its difficulty is being treated as negligible. Its meaning depends heavily on context and tone: describing a genuine technical distinction as trivial may minimize a significant issue, while calling a task trivially easy can communicate efficiency or, occasionally, sarcasm. Trivially is the standard adverb formed from the adjective trivial. It is especially useful when discussing detail, difficulty, or significance, because it can make explicit the contrast between what is small in scale and what matters in effect.
adverbIn a trivial or insignificant way, with little importance or effect. It can also indicate that something is so easy or simple that it can be done or dismissed easily.
- In a way that is of little importance or significance.
- So easily or simply that the effort or difficulty involved is being downplayed.
"The two proposals are trivially different, but the distinction has important consequences."
"Changing the wording seemed trivially easy until we discovered how many references depended on it."
"The editor dismissed the inconsistency as trivially different, although it affected the final result."
A trivial detail can be small without being insignificant; “trivially” is a reminder that size and importance are not the same thing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How trivially is actually used
The word is formal and neutral in tone, but it can sound dismissive when used about a concern that others regard as important. In phrases such as “trivially easy,” it may indicate that a task is exceptionally simple, sometimes with a hint of irony.
Easily confused with trivially
Trivial is an adjective describing something of little importance, whereas trivially is an adverb describing the manner in which something is done or regarded.