Inconsequential

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɪnˌkɑnsəˈkwɛnʃəl/

Definitions

1. Having little or no importance, significance, or influence; trivial and not worth serious consideration
2. Not having meaningful impact, relevance, or weight
3. insignificant and often overlooked in discussions or decisions

Etymology: The word is a plain compound: the prefix "in-", meaning "not", attached to "consequential," which itself comes from "consequence," from Latin "consequentia," a noun built on "consequi," "to follow after." So "inconsequential" literally means "not following on," that is, not leading to any result worth noticing. Its meaning, "not important," grows naturally from that sense of having no significant consequences. The negative prefix comes from Latin "in-," which English inherited in many forms, and it has been used in English since Middle English, when "inconsequent" and related words appeared. The Latin source is "inconsequens," and the English adjective has been formed on the same pattern, with the "-al" ending added to "consequent" to produce "consequential."

Synonyms: insignificant, trivial, unimportant

Antonyms: significant, important