fake news

American  

[feyk nooz, nyooz] / ˈfeɪk ˈnuz, ˈnyuz /

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.

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Usage

What is fake news? Fake news can refer to false new stories, often spread as misinformation or disinformation on social media. It has also come to refer any information that one finds critical about themselves or something themselves, a use popularized by President Donald Trump in 2016.

Etymology

Origin of fake news

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

Example Sentences

The KBB dismissed the report, telling AFP in a short statement: "We believe this is fake news."

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump described the reports as "fake news".

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

We dubbed this the “fox8” botnet after one of the fake news websites it was designed to amplify.

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026

Nobel laureate and outgoing interim government chief Muhammad Yunus has said, "there's no anti-Hindu violence", dismissing such reports as "fake news" by the Indian media.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

The War of the Worlds broadcast was based on fake news.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow