quiz

American  

[kwiz] / kwɪz /

noun

plural

quizzes

1. an informal test or examination of a student or class.

2. a questioning.

3. a practical joke; a hoax.

4. Chiefly British. an eccentric, often odd-looking person.

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verb (used with object)

quizzed, quizzing

1. to examine or test (a student or class) informally by questions.

2. to question closely.

   The police quizzed several suspects.

3. Chiefly British. to make fun of; ridicule; mock; chaff.

quiz British  

/ kwɪz /

noun

1. 1. an entertainment in which the general or specific knowledge of the players is tested by a series of questions, esp as a radio or television programme

   2. ( as modifier )

      a quiz programme

2. any set of quick questions designed to test knowledge

3. an investigation by close questioning; interrogation

4. obsolete a practical joke; hoax

5. obsolete a puzzling or eccentric individual

6. obsolete a person who habitually looks quizzically at others, esp through a small monocle

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verb

1. to investigate by close questioning; interrogate

2. informal to test or examine the knowledge of (a student or class)

3. obsolete (tr) to look quizzically at, esp through a small monocle

Other Word Forms

• quizzable adjective
• quizzer noun
• unquizzable adjective
• unquizzed adjective

Etymology

Origin of quiz

1775–85 in sense “odd person”; 1840–50 quiz for def. 1; origin uncertain

Explanation

A quiz is a short series of questions with a quick result. A magazine quiz might tell a reader if "he's into you," or a pop quiz in English class will let your teacher know how far you got (or didn't get) in last night's reading. As a verb, quiz means to ask a series of questions. A teacher might quiz his students on the material covered in lecture the day before. A mother might quiz her son as to his plans for after school. The questioning meaning of the noun and verb came into use in the mid-nineteenth century, possibly influence by words like inquisitive. Before that, quiz could refer to an odd or unconventional person, a meaning which eventually gave rise to quizzical, still in use today.

Example Sentences

During morning news briefings, journalists quiz Sheinbaum about the minutest details of her latest chats with Trump.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

“Funny You Should Ask,” also hosted by Allen, features comics in a quiz show format.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Debbie has been setting a quiz and a fellow traveller has been leading daily Tai Chi sessions.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

In the last issue of this newsletter, I talked about a pop quiz I gave at Columbia Business School.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

Maybe I’ll float, which, of course, is the answer to the first pop quiz question.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• grill
• inquire
• interrogate
• investigate
• query