A trifle is something small and unimportant. When your sister complains that you borrowed her pencil without asking, you might think it's just a trifle, barely worth mentioning. When a coach tells the team not to worry about trifles before the big game, she means they should focus on what really matters, not tiny details that won't affect the outcome.

The word can also mean a small amount. If you're a trifle nervous before your piano recital, you're just slightly nervous, not terrified. If something costs a trifle, it's very inexpensive.

To trifle with someone means to treat them carelessly or not take them seriously, like when an older kid trifles with a younger kid's feelings by pretending to be interested in their story but not really listening. You might also trifle away your time by wasting it on unimportant activities instead of doing homework.

In British cooking, a trifle is also a layered dessert made with cake, fruit, custard, and whipped cream, served in a glass bowl so you can see all the colorful layers.