Word
trivia
Phoneticstriv·ia
US/ˈtɹɪviə/
UK/tɹˈɪviɐ/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. small, interesting pieces of information that are not very important for everyday life.
n. insignificant or obscure details and information. Uncountable in this general sense.
Examples
“We spent the evening playing movie trivia.”
“The book is full of fascinating trivia about the history of the city's subway system.”
“While the professor was a brilliant researcher, his lectures were often criticized for focusing on historical trivia rather than the fundamental theories of the discipline.”
Examples
simple
“We spent the evening playing movie trivia.”
contextual
“The book is full of fascinating trivia about the history of the city's subway system.”
complex
“While the professor was a brilliant researcher, his lectures were often criticized for focusing on historical trivia rather than the fundamental theories of the discipline.”
Usage
Usually treated as an uncountable noun when referring to the information itself.
Etymology
PIE word *tréyes From Latin trivia, plural of trivium (“place where three roads meet”). The term came to be used for any public place, and then for anything commonplace. Furthermore, because the beginners' course at university was called trivium, the word came to be used only for anything basic, simple and trivial.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/trivia