trife: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Slang
Quick answer
What does “trife” mean?
Trivial or petty.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Trivial or petty
Used to describe something of little importance, often causing minor annoyance or being insignificant, typically in informal speech.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in American English than British English.
Connotations
Informal, often negative, implying something is not worth attention.
Frequency
Rare in standard British English; occasionally heard in American slang.
Grammar
How to Use “trife” in a Sentence
be + trifeconsider + trifeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “trife” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- That argument is completely trife.
- It's a bit trife to complain about that.
American English
- Don't worry about it, it's trife.
- His excuse was so trife.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in formal business contexts.
Academic
Avoid in academic writing due to informality.
Everyday
Common in casual conversations among peers.
Technical
Not applicable in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “trife”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “trife”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “trife”
- Using 'trife' in formal writing, or confusing it with 'trifle'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It means trivial or petty, often used in informal contexts to describe something of little importance.
No, it is a non-standard slang term primarily used in certain dialects like African American Vernacular English (AAVE).
No, it should be avoided in formal contexts due to its informal register and non-standard status.
It is commonly used as an adjective, e.g., 'That's trife,' to express that something is trivial or not worth attention.
Trivial or petty.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'trife' as similar to 'trifle', both starting with 'tri-' and meaning something small or unimportant.
Conceptual Metaphor
Unimportance as a minor issue
Practice
Quiz
In informal speech, what is the best synonym for 'trife'?