anecdata

American  

[an-ik-dey-tuh, -dat-uh, -dah-tuh] / ˌæn ɪkˈdeɪ tə, -ˈdæt ə, -ˈdɑ tə /

noun

1. anecdotal evidence based on personal observations or opinions, random investigations, etc., but presented as fact.

   biased arguments supported by anecdata.

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Etymology

Origin of anecdata

First recorded in 1990–95; anec(dotal) + data

Example Sentences

Uber, whose business spans ride hailing and food delivery, won’t say how much it’s paid out, but the anecdata suggest it’s a lot.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2023

This may be anecdata, I realize, but I’ve seen more and more people saying what a pleasure it is to watch this show every week.

From New York Times • Apr. 10, 2023

To be sure, Silicon Valley is abuzz with anecdata about start-ups laying off workers.

From Washington Post • Jun. 7, 2022

Nevertheless, I can’t help but think that the “Little Women faces misogynistic reception” narrative – which seems to be based entirely on anecdata – has been hugely, and unhelpfully, overblown.

From The Guardian • Jan. 4, 2020

It’s in this part of the argument that the book most suffers from lack of the in-depth relationships that the first Reviving Ophelia, written when Pipher was still a practicing therapist, could tap as anecdata.

From Slate • Jun. 26, 2019