NYT Dictionary

TRIVIA

/ˈtɹɪvi.ə/
NounTRIV-i-atriv-i-a · 3 syllablesGrade 3

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Insignificant trifles of little importance, especially items of unimportant information.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

PIE word *tréyes Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *tréyes Proto-Indo-European *tri- Proto-Italic *tri- Latin tri- Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁- Proto-Italic *wiā Latin via Latin -ius Latin trivius Latin trivia English trivia 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.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

frothtrivialitytrifletriviumaceatomchaffdabdetailsdole

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 12 recorded puzzles:

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