trivia

Trivia refers to information that is interesting or of little practical importance, especially facts, details, and anecdotes that are curious but not essential to a topic. In common usage, trivia encompasses obscure dates, names, statistics, and quirky bits across many domains.

The term derives from the Latin trivium, meaning "the place where three roads meet," and historically referred to trifling matters. In English, trivia came to denote insignificant facts, and by the 19th century it was associated with miscellaneous knowledge that is entertaining to know.

Trivia spans geography, history, science, culture, sports, and entertainment. It often emphasizes unusual facts, records, or connections that illuminate a subject in unexpected ways. Trivia is collected and shared through books, magazines, online databases, and user-generated content.

Trivia is central to many games and social activities. Television quiz shows such as Jeopardy! and game formats like pub quizzes and trivia nights rely on quick recall and breadth of knowledge. Digital platforms host multiplayer quizzes, while question databases support education and entertainment.

While trivia can stimulate curiosity and memory and support informal learning, it can also inflate superficial knowledge or spread inaccuracies if not fact-checked. Reliable trivia depends on careful sourcing and ongoing updates.