"Trivium" literally means "three ways" and referred to the three basic subjects studied in medieval European universities:
* Grammar
* Logic
* Rhetoric
These subjects were considered the "foundation" of education and were thus called "trivia" because they were commonplace and fundamental knowledge that everyone was expected to know.
Over time, the meaning of "trivia" shifted to refer to insignificant or unimportant matters, likely because the subjects of the trivium were considered basic and therefore not particularly challenging or stimulating.
This shift in meaning is reflected in the modern usage of "trivia" to describe light, inconsequential information or facts.