Trivia is information and data that are considered to be of little value. It can be contrasted with general knowledge and common sense. The word is derived from the Latin word triviae, meaning a place where a road split into two (thus, creating a three-way intersection). It was introduced into English as the adjective trivial in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Modern usage of the term trivia dates back to the 1960s, when college students introduced question-and-answer contests to their universities. A board game, Trivial Pursuit, was released in 1982 in the same vein as these contests. Since the beginning of its modern usage, trivia contests have been established at various academic levels as well as casual venues such as bars and restaurants.