FRIVOLITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does frivolity mean? 

• FRIVOLITY (noun)
  The noun FRIVOLITY has 3 senses:

1. the trait of being frivolous; not serious or sensible

2. something of little value or significance

3. acting like a clown or buffoon

  Familiarity information: FRIVOLITY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FRIVOLITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The trait of being frivolous; not serious or sensible

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

frivolity; frivolousness

Hypernyms ("frivolity" is a kind of...):

trait (a distinguishing feature of your personal nature)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "frivolity"):

giddiness; silliness (an impulsive scatterbrained manner)

levity (a manner lacking seriousness)

fun; playfulness (a disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement)

Antonym:

seriousness (the trait of being serious)

Derivation:

frivolous (not serious in content or attitude or behavior)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Something of little value or significance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bagatelle; fluff; frippery; frivolity

Hypernyms ("frivolity" is a kind of...):

small beer; trifle; trivia; triviality (something of small importance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Acting like a clown or buffoon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

buffoonery; clowning; frivolity; harlequinade; japery; prank

Hypernyms ("frivolity" is a kind of...):

craziness; folly; foolery; indulgence; lunacy; tomfoolery (foolish or senseless behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "frivolity"):

schtick; schtik; shtick; shtik ((Yiddish) a prank or piece of clowning)

Derivation:

frivolous (not serious in content or attitude or behavior)

 Context examples 

The frivolity of the laughter-loving Latins is no part of him.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Your social life, which started to bubble up with the entry of Mars to Libra on October 3, will continue to add fun and frivolity while Mars remains in Libra until November 18.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

When I found that the leading international agent, who had just left London, lived in a row of houses which abutted upon the Underground, I was so pleased that you were a little astonished at my sudden frivolity.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Meaning nothing but a certain matured frivolity and selfishness, not always inseparable from full-blown years, I think she confirmed him in his fear that he was a constraint upon his young wife, and that there was no congeniality of feeling between them, by so strongly commending his design of lightening the load of her life.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)