factoid

American  

[fak-toid] / ˈfæk tɔɪd /

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.

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factoid British  

/ ˈfæktɔɪd /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• factoidal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of factoid

First recorded in 1973; fact + -oid

Explanation

A factoid is a small bit of information, or an idea that seems like a fact and has been repeated often but may not actually be true. Norman Mailer defines factoid in his 1973 biography of Marilyn Monroe, as “facts which have no existence before appearing in a magazine or newspaper.” There are also factoids like "Eskimos have hundreds of words for snow,” that are just repeated often and look like facts. The problem is that factoids are not always true, like that Eskimo myth. These days, in America, a factoid usually refers to a small, true fact, like a tiny bit of news.

Example Sentences

That’s the kind of factoid that seems to especially boil the blood of Musk, who donated $38 million to the not-for-profit that eventually created a for-profit organization.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

This factoid shared by Bespoke Investment Group gets right at what is making this rebound so unusual.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

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.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025

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

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2024

I nodded as if I’d already known that factoid.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller