trivial
UK: ˈtrɪv.i.əl | US: ˈtrɪv.i.əl
adj. of little value or importance; insignificant
adj. ordinary or commonplace; lacking novelty
adj. (mathematics) relating to the simplest or most obvious case
trivial = tri<three> + via<road> + al<adjective suffix>
- tri (from Latin tres, meaning "three")
- via (from Latin via, meaning "road" or "way")
- al (Latin-derived suffix forming adjectives)
Etymology Origin:
The word trivial originates from Latin trivium, meaning "a place where three roads meet." In medieval education, the trivium referred to the three foundational liberal arts (grammar, logic, and rhetoric), considered basic and accessible to all. Over time, trivial evolved to describe things that are commonplace, simple, or of little importance—reflecting the idea of knowledge or topics encountered at everyday crossroads.
The professor dismissed the question as trivial and unworthy of discussion.
She spent hours debating trivial details instead of focusing on the main issue.
In mathematics, a trivial solution is one that is immediately obvious.
His complaints were mostly about trivial inconveniences.
The book explores profound ideas without getting bogged down in trivial anecdotes.