frivolity

  • 1Frivolity — Fri*vol i*ty, n.; pl. {Frivolities}. [Cg. F. frivolit[ e]. See {Frivolous}.] The condition or quality of being frivolous; also, acts or habits of trifling; unbecoming levity of disposition. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2frivolity — 1796, from Fr. frivolité, from O.Fr. frivole frivolous, from L. frivolus (see FRIVOLOUS (Cf. frivolous)) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 3frivolity — levity, flippancy, light mindedness, volatility, flightiness, tightness Analogous words: trifling, flirting, dallying, coquetting, toying (see TRIFLE vb): play, sport, *fun, jest, game: gaiety, liveliness, vivaciousness, sprightliness (see… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 4frivolity — [n] silliness, childishness coquetting, dallying, flightiness, flippancy, flirting, flummery, folly, fribble, frippery, frivolousness, fun, gaiety, game, giddiness, jest, levity, lightheartedness, lightness, nonsense, play, puerility, shallowness …

    New thesaurus

  • 5frivolity — [fri väl′ə tē] n. [Fr frivolité] 1. the quality or condition of being frivolous 2. pl. frivolities a frivolous act or thing …

    English World dictionary

  • 6frivolity — /fri vol i tee/, n., pl. frivolities for 2. 1. the quality or state of being frivolous: the frivolity of Mardi Gras. 2. a frivolous act or thing: It was a frivolity he had a hard time living down. [1790 1800; < F frivolité. See FRIVOLOUS, ITY]&#8230; …

    Universalium

  • 7frivolity — [[t]frɪvɒ̱lɪti[/t]] frivolities N VAR If you refer to an activity as a frivolity, you think that it is amusing and rather silly, rather than serious and sensible. There is a serious message at the core of all this frivolity... He was one of my&#8230; …

    English dictionary

  • 8frivolity — UK [frɪˈvɒlətɪ] / US [frɪˈvɑlətɪ] noun Word forms frivolity : singular frivolity plural frivolities a) [uncountable] silly behaviour or attitudes b) [countable] something that is silly …

    English dictionary

  • 9frivolity — fri|vol|i|ty [frıˈvɔlıti US ˈva: ] n plural frivolities 1.) [U and C] behaviour or activities that are not serious or sensible, especially when you should be serious or sensible ▪ I don t think such frivolity helps the organization s public image …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 10frivolity — noun 1 (U) lack of serious or sensible thought or behaviour: Your frivolity is out of place on such a solemn occasion. 2 frivolities (plural) a) silly or amusing actions or words, especially in a situation where you should be serious or sensible&#8230; …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English