trivialise

Trivialise is a verb meaning to make something seem less important, serious, or significant than it actually is, or to treat it as if it were merely trivial. The spelling trivialise is used in British English, while American English normally uses trivialize; both forms share the same meaning.

Etymology and sense: The word derives from the Latin trivialis meaning common or ordinary, related to the idea of something being of little consequence. The sense “to treat as trivial” developed in English over time, with trivial evolving from this broader sense of ordinaryness.

Usage and nuances: Trivialising can appear in discussions of politics, science, trauma, or everyday life. It can serve to downplay complexity or urgency, but is often criticized as dismissive or disrespectful when it belittles people’s experiences or serious problems. It is not the same as simply simplifying or clarifying a point; it implies reducing the issue’s importance beyond what is warranted.

Examples and forms: A common noun form is trivialization (or trivialisation). Related verbs include minimize, downplay, and belittle; antonyms include emphasize, underscore, and address seriously. The term is frequently used in critique of rhetoric that aims to reduce the perceived significance of an issue or event.

See also: trivial, trivialization, minimization.