trivia
plural noun
matters or things that are very unimportant, inconsequential, or nonessential; trifles; trivialities.
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trivia
1 American
[triv-ee-uh]
/ ˈtrɪv i ə /
plural noun
Trivia
2
American
[triv-ee-uh]
/ ˈtrɪv i ə /
noun
trivia
British
/ ˈtrɪvɪə /
noun
Etymology
Origin of trivia1
1900–05; pseudo-Latin trivia (neuter plural), taken as the base of trivial
Origin of Trivia2
First recorded in 1700–10; from Latin, feminine of trivius (adj.), derivative of trivium “place where three roads meet,” equivalent to tri- tri- + -vium, derivative of via “way, road”
Explanation
Can you name the twenty-third vice-president? Do you know all the state birds? If so, you must be good at trivia: facts that are interesting but not necessarily important. Everybody probably knows trivia about something they enjoy. Baseball fans can quote batting averages of their favorite players; movie nuts can tell you exactly what films their favorite actors appeared in and who they played. The game "Trivial Pursuit" is full of questions about facts like that. Why would anyone bother with trivia? Usually, because they love the topic, or maybe they need to know it for their job. One person's trivia is another person's important information.
Vocabulary lists containing trivia
A First Time for Everything
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Doing Time Online
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Not Nothing
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Today’s bite-size trivia quiz might be worth a try!
From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026
Speaking on any given topic, he developed a trademark style built around a "key point", often a piece of trivia, and asked the audience to take note, like a teacher addressing students, which impressed them.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
Something to celebrate, fun trivia to tuck away for later.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
Then, scroll to the bottom to see how all the teams stack up, and discover a nugget of trivia for each team.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026
He had his ’80s trivia down cold, and not just the canon stuff, either.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
Trivia, whisky tastings, casino games and pickleball went on as usual.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
Trivia question: Name the only person to coach the Seattle Sonics and the Seattle University men’s basketball team, and who also performed general manager duties for the Sonics and the Portland Trail Blazers.
From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2024
Select Alamo Drafthouse locations in Washington D.C. and Virginia offer Think-N-Drink Trivia nights every Thursday at 7 p.m.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2023
Trivia, the coin of the realm in pop culture writing, is spilled here in abundance.
From New York Times ● Dec. 6, 2022
“But what I could use some help on is the Trivia Contest. I’ve been working at it for twenty-five years and never even come close to a ringer.”
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
