Word
trifling
Phoneticstri·fling, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɹaɪfɫɪŋ/
UK/tɹˈaɪflɪŋ/
In Japanese
trivial; trifling; insignificant
insignificant; trifling; paltry
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
Definition
adj. unimportant or very small. You use this to describe something that is not worth worrying about because it has very little value.
adj. of little importance, value, or significance. Often describes small amounts of money or minor problems that do not require serious attention.
Examples
“He spent the afternoon worrying over a trifling sum of money.”
“The manager refused to waste time on such trifling complaints when the company was facing a major crisis.”
“While the individual errors seemed trifling in isolation, their cumulative effect over several months led to a significant discrepancy in the final audit.”
Examples
simple
“He spent the afternoon worrying over a trifling sum of money.”
contextual
“The manager refused to waste time on such trifling complaints when the company was facing a major crisis.”
complex
“While the individual errors seemed trifling in isolation, their cumulative effect over several months led to a significant discrepancy in the final audit.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “trifling” in context.
Verb
01. dislike trifling
“The manager dislikes trifling during office hours.”
verb + noun
02. stop trifling
“You must stop this trifling and focus on your final exams.”
verb + noun
03. trifling ceases
“All trifling ceases once the captain enters the room.”
noun + verb
Adjective
04. idle trifling
“She had no patience for idle trifling when there was serious work to be done.”
adj + noun
05. mere trifling
“He dismissed the complaint as mere trifling with the court's time.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. amount of trifling
“A certain amount of trifling is expected during the holiday season.”
noun + prep + noun
07. guilty of idle trifling
“The committee was found guilty of idle trifling while the crisis worsened.”
08. waste time in trifling
“Do not waste your time in trifling over unimportant details.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun.
Real-World Examples
“Referees have been encouraged to avoid whistling for trifling fouls, helping reduce stoppages and increase ball-in-play time in a tournament already marked by high-scoring matches and relentless intensity.” “Chang Guann was fined a trifling $1.67 million for its illegal sales.” Etymology
From trifle + -ing. The term is formed through surface analysis of the existing noun, providing a descriptor for matters of negligible importance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 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 C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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