We explain what something frivolous is, the origin of the term and how it is used. Also, various examples and meanings.
What is something or someone frivolous?
The word frivolous generally means something that is unimportant or shallow, something that is vain, superficial, fleeting, and therefore does not deserve much consideration or too much effort.
It is an adjective that usually used to characterize topics, discussions or debates (“frivolous considerations” are ideas that are not very relevant or not worthy of taking into account), but also to the people (a “frivolous person” is someone who dedicates his or her attention or effort to irrelevant or inconsequential matters).
The word frivolous comes from Latin frivolousderived from the verb friare“break into pieces.” Originally, it was used to refer to utensils or containers (for example, ceramics or clay vessels) that due to their poor workmanship were brittle, unreliable or not very resistant.
Later it gained a metaphorical meaning that ended up being the predominant one, and which translates into “light”, “vain” or “futile”, that is, of little weight, of little importance.
Some examples of sentences with this adjective may be the following:
- “That conference we went to seemed pretty frivolous to me in the end.”
- “You shouldn't waste so much time on such frivolities.”
- “I broke up with Hernán, I couldn't stand being with someone so frivolous.”
- “I think the national press has become very frivolous lately.”
- “I love show business and all that frivolity.”
They are synonyms of frivolous: inconsequential, trivial, banal, light, irrelevant. Instead, they are antonyms: serious, transcendent, important, profound.
Other uses of the word
In certain contexts, the word frivolous can have somewhat different meanings. For example, when said about a publication, a show, a dance or a song, this adjective functions as synonymous with “light” and “sensual”that is, it has to do with matters of the body, the senses and sensuality or eroticism.
Continue with: Fickle
References
- “Frívolo, la” in the Dictionary of the Language of the Royal Spanish Academy.
- “Etymology of Frivolous” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
- “Frivolous” in the Wiktionary.
