‘Jeopardy!’ Boss Reveals the One Word That Is Not Allowed on Set
‘Jeopardy!’ Boss Reveals the One Word That Is Not Allowed on Set
Brittany SimsMon, July 20, 2026 at 4:08 PM UTC
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Ken Jennings - Jeopardy, Inc!
This is a big no-no! With clues ranging from all different categories, the strangest to the hardest of words are set all the time on Jeopardy!. However, there is one simple word that the bosses do not allow – trivia.
CNN talked with showrunner Michael Davies about the game show hiring a new clue writer for the first time in 30 years and having it not come from someone already involved in the show. As he and the rest of the crew sift through applications, there is one thing they are looking for in particular to weed out contestants — using the word “trivia.”
“We do not use the word trivia at Jeopardy!,” he told the outlet. “We don’t regard what we write as trivial. We regard this as the subjects, the facts, the things that an elite, modern American should know.”
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, trivia is defined as “unimportant matters: trivial facts or details,” and “facts (as about people or events) that are not well-known.” The website defines Jeopardy! as a “quiz show” and “game show,” not a “trivia game.”
Rather, Jeopardy! uses the phrase “clue” for their facts on the board. And unlike most game shows, they are answered in the form of a question (“What is *blank*?” or “Who is *blank*?”) These clues are fact-checked by a team of researchers that vet and verify the clues for every episode.
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However, many Jeopardy! alums have said they attend trivia nights to help them study for the show. Host Ken Jennings, as well as alum Buzzy Cohen and Austin Rogers, have released trivia books after their time on the show, so don’t feel bad if you have been using the word wrong because some of the best have.
Davies wants to try to have the new writer hired by the time Jeopardy! begins filming its new season in late August, so applicants should start taking the word “trivia” out of their vocabulary now. They could also be working with previous champion Alison Betts.
“I’ve never had this many submissions for a writing job before,” he said. “But that’s a high-class problem, and it speaks to the fandom of the program.”
Did you know trivia wasn’t allowed to be said on the Jeopardy! set? Let us know in the comments.
Jeopardy!, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
