1
: something of little value, substance, or importance
2
: a dessert typically consisting of plain or sponge cake often soaked with wine or spirits (such as brandy or rum) and topped with layers of preserves, custard, and cream
trifled; trifling
ˈtrī-f(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to treat someone or something as unimportant
b
: to talk in a jesting or mocking manner or with intent to delude or mislead
2
: to handle something idly
Examples of trifle in a Sentence
Noun
There's no reason to argue over such trifles.
The money is a mere trifle to me.
Verb
do not trifle with me unless you mean to ask me to marry you
spent a lazy afternoon trifling on the front porch
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Social media is also full of ideas from people taking this oversized pie and turning it into any number of other desserts, from mini individual pies (with the use of a biscuit cutter) to layered trifles that are highly impressive and visually stunning.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
His trifle looks fantastic with a sponge collar, which gives it the air of wallpaper in an Italian boutique hotel.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Social media is also full of ideas from people taking this oversized pie and turning it into any number of other desserts, from mini individual pies (with the use of a biscuit cutter) to layered trifles that are highly impressive and visually stunning.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
The aging Airy had devoted his observatory to stellar measurements that now produced trifling improvements to navigation.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trifle
Cite this Entry
“Trifle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trifle. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trifle
1 of 2 noun
tri·fle
ˈtrī-fəl
1
: something of little value or importance
2
: a dessert of sponge cake spread with jam or jelly covered with a custard and whipped cream
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share