Trifling means unimportant, trivial, or so small that it barely matters. A trifling amount of money might be a few pennies. A trifling detail in a story might be what color socks a character wore, information that doesn't affect the plot at all.

When something is trifling, it's not worth much attention or concern. If you scraped your knee slightly while playing soccer, you might call it a trifling injury compared to a broken bone. If your friend worries about a tiny wrinkle in their shirt before a school photo, you might reassure them that it's a trifling matter that no one will even notice.

The word can also describe someone who acts in a silly, irresponsible, or time-wasting way. A trifling person might make promises they don't keep or waste everyone's time with distractions when there's important work to do. If a teammate goofs around during practice instead of focusing, a coach might say they're being trifling.

The word suggests something is beneath notice or not deserving of serious effort. When you have limited time and energy, learning to recognize what's trifling can help you focus on what truly matters.