Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

trifle

/ˈtɹaɪfəl/ noun

In Latin: gerrae, naucum, tittibilīcium Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about trifle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate.
A detail that is considered insignificant.
Something of small importance.

verb

Waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently.
Act frivolously.
Consider not very seriously.
He is trifling with her

Origin

From Middle English trifle, trifel, triful, trefle, truyfle, trufful, from Old French trufle (“mockery”), a byform of trufe, truffe (“deception”), of uncertain origin.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word