Word
frivolous
Phoneticsfriv·o·lous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɹɪvəɫəs/
UK/fɹˈɪvələs/
Definition
adj. not having any serious purpose or value. You use this to describe things that are silly or a waste of time when you should be serious.
adj. lacking any serious purpose, value, or necessity. In legal contexts, refers to claims or actions brought without any reasonable basis in fact or law.
Examples
“She spent her money on frivolous things.”
“The judge dismissed the case immediately, calling it a frivolous lawsuit intended only to waste the court's time.”
“While the initial complaint seemed frivolous to the public, the subsequent investigation revealed a systemic failure that warranted a serious legal review of the company's safety protocols.”
Examples
simple
“She spent her money on frivolous things.”
contextual
“The judge dismissed the case immediately, calling it a frivolous lawsuit intended only to waste the court's time.”
complex
“While the initial complaint seemed frivolous to the public, the subsequent investigation revealed a systemic failure that warranted a serious legal review of the company's safety protocols.”
Usage
Often used to modify nouns like 'lawsuit', 'claim', 'expense', or 'behavior'.
Real-World Examples
“Earlier on Monday, US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau alleged on X that the American immigration system “has long been swamped by frivolous asylum claims”.” “Splashing water by the river amounts to a frivolous invitation to play.” Etymology
From Latin frīvolus (“silly, empty, trifling, frivolous, worthless”), with the ending modified to match -ous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/frivolous