fake news

[ feyk nooz, nyooz ]

noun

1. false news stories, often of a sensational nature, created to be widely shared or distributed for the purpose of generating revenue, or promoting or discrediting a public figure, political movement, company, etc.:

   It’s impossible to avoid clickbait and fake news on social media.

2. a parody that presents current events or other news topics for humorous effect in an obviously satirical imitation of journalism:

   The website publishes fake news that is hilarious and surprisingly insightful.

3. Sometimes Facetious. (used as a conversational tactic to dispute or discredit information that is perceived as hostile or unflattering):

   The senator insisted that recent polls forecasting an election loss were just fake news.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fake news¹

First recorded in 1800–20 in the sense “false news, spurious news”; the current sense was first recorded in 2010–15

Example Sentences

Back then, every single newspaper, website, and news show (even the fake news shows) was awash in gridiron scandal.

From The Daily Beast

It was the first time an entertainer broadcasted a fake-news program from a war zone.

From The Daily Beast

I was mighty comfortable lying on my blanket, and you just thought you'd see how you could stir us up with some fake news.

From Project Gutenberg

But it is not of fake news alone, probably, that the Versailles Assembly is afraid.

From Project Gutenberg