3 ms·
And here is a fact to add to your repertoire of non-factoids! Factoid, is in fact a fact which is not actually true, but has been so often repeated it is accept
by phist_mcgee 6y ago
And here is a fact to add to your repertoire of non-factoids!
Factoid, is in fact a fact which is not actually true, but has been so often repeated it is accepted as true!
(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/factoid https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/factoid)
Unless of course you are referring to the other meaning of factoid, which is the opposite meaning..
- nl 6y agoI think the opposite meaning of factoid (ie: a small, very specific fact) is actually the more common usage. I've never heard anyone actually use the original meaning, but frequently hear the "small fact" usage - except to point out the opposite meaning. (I've done some work in question answering, and the "small fact" usage is exclusively the way I've seen it used in that field)
- sellyme 6y agoI find that the most common usage is for someone describing what they think is a small, very specific fact, but is in fact just a repetition of an old wives' tale with no veracity whatsoever. So maybe the original definition isn't intentionally used that often, but it does end up being relevant quite a lot!
- notduncansmith 6y agoThat’s also the more common usage in my experience, though the -oid suffix (derived from the Greek for “likeness”, cf humanoid/android, spheroid, etc) indicates that the other meaning, “something fact-like but necessarily a fact” is more etymologically correct.
- theobeers 6y agoThis question of usage has always been a tough one for me, since both senses are well attested and fill niches (though “would-be fact” has a stronger etymological basis). Oh well! I try to enjoy such cases of multivalence.