factoid

noun

fac·​toid ˈfak-ˌtȯid How to pronounce factoid (audio)
1
: an invented fact believed to be true because it appears in print
2
: 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 That's normally a quirky, astronomical factoid (or a very special birthday for some). Scharon Harding, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024 Each year’s Academy Award nominations arrive with an array of notable firsts and other cool factoids that speed the hearts of Oscar lovers and movie trivia fans everywhere. Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2024 From Barbie fashion to factoids to cultural analysis, there's an angle on the iconic doll for every fan. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024 Last Updated: Live Coverage Feed 13 hours ago The debate is digging deeply into factoids about former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's records in their states, with both candidates taking shots at the other. WSJ, 11 Jan. 2024 While the ballistic factoids ostensibly relate to pool safety and the rationale for trying to avoid swallowing pool water, the infographic best functions as a general reminder that humans are inherently filthy animals that should probably only be swimming in vast vats of hand sanitizer. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 23 June 2023 Each of the 40 phenomena is accompanied by a handful of factoids and a small map to show where it was found, but prime of place goes to Adam Wolf’s satisfyingly melodramatic illustrations. Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 3 Nov. 2023 The factoids from Rodgers’s Jets debut are painful. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023 Historical factoids are interspersed with a loose narrative about frenzied tour guide Phil (played at alternate performances by Taylor Hilliard and Lynwood McLeod). Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'factoid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

fact + -oid entry 1

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of factoid was in 1973

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near factoid

Cite this Entry

“Factoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/factoid. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

factoid

noun
fac·​toid ˈfak-ˌtȯid How to pronounce factoid (audio)
1
: a made-up piece of information thought to be true due to its appearance in print
2
: a brief often trivial news item

More from Merriam-Webster on factoid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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