frivolous

/ˈfɹɪv.ə.ləs/

//ˈfɹɪv.ə.ləs// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"frivolous" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“frivolous” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #21,801. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#21,801
frequency rank, English
18,613
“F” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner; lacking a good reason for being, or for doing what one does; due to or moved by a whim or caprice.

Key facts for frivolous
PropertyValue
Headwordfrivolous
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈfɹɪv.ə.ləs/
Letters9
Frequency rank#21,801
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “frivolous” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). frivolous lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around frivolous (IPA /ˈfɹɪv.ə.ləs/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #21,801 among 18,613 “F” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for frivolous, with forms such as "ffrivolous", "firvolous", and "friovlous". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin frīvolus (“silly, empty, trifling, frivolous, worthless”), with the ending modified to match -ous. The correct English form is frivolous, spelled F-R-I-V-O-L-O-U-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner; lacking a good reason for being, or for doing what one does; due to or moved by a whim or caprice.
  2. 2
    Of little weight or importance; not worth notice; slight; trivial.
  3. 3
    Having no reasonable prospect of success because its claim is without merit, lacking a supporting legal or factual basis, while the filing party is, or should be, aware of this.

Etymology

From Latin frīvolus (“silly, empty, trifling, frivolous, worthless”), with the ending modified to match -ous.

This word in other languages

frívolo(Español)frivole(Français)albern(Deutsch)frívolo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ffrivolous
  • firvolous
  • friovlous
  • frivloous
  • frivollous
  • frivolosu
  • frivolouss
  • frivoluos
  • frivoolus
  • frivvolous
  • frrivolous
  • frviolous
  • rfivolous

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of frivolous - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ffrivolous1firvolous2friovlous2frivloous2frivollous1frivolosu2frivolouss1frivoluos2
Edit distance from "frivolous"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "frivolous"?
"frivolous" is spelled F-R-I-V-O-L-O-U-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɹɪv.ə.ləs/.
What does "frivolous" mean?
As an adjective, "frivolous" means: Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner; lacking a good reason for being, or for doing what one does; due to or moved by a whim or caprice.
What are common misspellings of "frivolous"?
Common misspellings include "ffrivolous", "firvolous", "friovlous", "frivloous", "frivollous". The correct spelling is "frivolous".
How do you pronounce "frivolous"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "frivolous" is /ˈfɹɪv.ə.ləs/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "frivolous"?
From Latin frīvolus (“silly, empty, trifling, frivolous, worthless”), with the ending modified to match -ous. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “frivolous”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is F-R-I-V-O-L-O-U-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈfɹɪv.ə.ləs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list