English Explanatory Dictionary

frivolous

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner; lacking a good reason for being, or for doing what one does; due to or moved by a caprice or whim.
  2. Of little weight or importance; not worth notice; slight; trivial.
  3. Having no reasonable prospect of success because its claim is without merit, lacking a supporting legal or factual basis, while the filing party is, or should be, aware of this.

Pronunciation

/ˈfɹɪv.ə.ləs/ en-us-frivolous.ogg en-au-frivolous.ogg

Word forms

frivolous more frivolous most frivolous

Etymology

From Latin frīvolus (“silly, empty, trifling, frivolous, worthless”), with the ending modified to match -ous.

Synonyms

base contemptible floccinaucinihilipilificatious foolish for the birds futile frivolous idle ignorable immaterial inconsequential inconsiderable indifferent insignificant like a fart in a windstorm meager mean minor miserable negligible nothingburger nondescript null paltry petty picayune picayunish piddling piddly pissant pissass piteous pitiful pointless silly simple slight ticky-tacky tin-pot trifling trivial two-bit unimportant unweighty vain worthless wretched

Related words

frivol frivolity

Derived words

frivolent frivolosity frivolousity frivolously frivolousness nonfrivolous ultrafrivolous unfrivolous
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