- not serious or sensible in content, attitude, or behaviour; silly
- unworthy of serious or sensible treatment; unimportant: frivolous details
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
fri•vol•i•ty /frɪˈvɑlɪti/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -ties. [countable] a frivolous act or thing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [uncountable] lighthearted or foolish activity:A party is a time for frivolity.
fri•vol•i•ty
(fri vol′i tē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ties for 2.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- the quality or state of being frivolous:the frivolity of Mardi Gras.
- a frivolous act or thing:It was a frivolity he had a hard time living down.
- French frivolité. See frivolous, -ity
- 1790–1800
- 1. self-indulgence, irresponsibility, triviality, abandon, levity, foolishness.
friv•o•lous /ˈfrɪvələs/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- characterized by lack of seriousness or sense:frivolous conduct.
- not worthy of serious notice:a frivolous suggestion.
friv•o•lous
(friv′ə ləs),USA pronunciation adj.
friv′o•lous•ly, adv.
friv′o•lous•ness, n.
- characterized by lack of seriousness or sense:frivolous conduct.
- self-indulgently carefree;
unconcerned about or lacking any serious purpose. - (of a person) given to trifling or undue levity:a frivolous, empty-headed person.
- of little or no weight, worth, or importance;
not worthy of serious notice:a frivolous suggestion.
- Latin frīvolus worthless, trifling; see -ous
- late Middle English 1425–75
friv′o•lous•ness, n.
- 3. idle, silly, foolish, childish, puerile. 4. light, trifling, petty, paltry, trivial, flimsy.
- 3. serious. 4. weighty.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
frivolous /ˈfrɪvələs/ adj
'frivolity' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):