factoid

noun

fac·toid ˈfak-ˌtȯid

Synonyms of factoid next

: an invented fact believed to be true because it appears in print

: a briefly stated and usually trivial fact

Did you know?

Did you know that Norman Mailer coined the word factoid?

We can thank Norman Mailer for factoid: he used the word in his 1973 book Marilyn (about Marilyn Monroe), and he is believed to be the coiner of the word. In the book, he explains that factoids are "facts which have no existence before appearing in a magazine or newspaper, creations which are not so much lies as a product to manipulate emotion in the Silent Majority." Mailer's use of the -oid suffix (which traces back to the ancient Greek word eidos, meaning "appearance" or "form") follows in the pattern of humanoid: just as a humanoid appears to be human but is not, a factoid appears to be factual but is not. The word has since evolved so that now it most often refers to things that decidedly are facts, just not ones that are significant.

Examples of factoid in a Sentence

The book is really just a collection of interesting factoids.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Fun factoid: The original plot of the operetta Babes in Toyland was about two children who flee from their wicked Uncle Barnaby and journey to Toyland. —

Marc Berman, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 Here are some Fifth Avenue factoids provided by the association: Since 2023, there have been more than 10 commercial real estate transactions on Fifth Avenue, totaling $3.9 billion. —

David Moin, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024 Fun factoid: Not even the granddaddy of the genre, Star Trek, did all that well in its original run on the evening in the late 1960s. —

Marc Berman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Throughout the event, Broadway Votes will keep the hosts and viewers up to date with election reminders and factoids as the day goes on, according to a press release. —

Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for factoid