factoid

[fak-toid]

noun

1. an insignificant or trivial fact.

2. something fictitious or unsubstantiated that is presented as fact, devised especially to gain publicity and accepted because of constant repetition.

factoid

/ ˈfæktɔɪd /

noun

1. a piece of unreliable information believed to be true because of the way it is presented or repeated in print

Other Word Forms

• factoidal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of factoid¹

First recorded in 1973; fact + -oid

Word History and Origins

Origin of factoid¹

C20 (coined by Norman _Mailer ): from _fact + _-oid

Example Sentences

For me it was this tiny factoid: Douglas Kelley, the psychiatrist, was also an amateur magician.

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Students no longer read through every available factoid on, say, Walmart’s wages for hourly workers and write a memo—tasks that can be easily circumvented with generative AI tools.

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Now subtract a significant number of historical factoids and add in some real ghosts — or at least a few tricks of the light and convincing actors.

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Consequently, the factoid has served as fuel for the longstanding California debate of “who is to blame for our wildfire problem?” while providing little insight for forest managers hoping to address it.

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"It's just a weird little factoid about our community," she said.

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