factoid

Etymology
From ; in , defined as "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".

Noun

 * 1) An inaccurate statement or statistic believed to be true because of broad repetition, especially if cited in the media.
 * 2)  An interesting item of trivia; a minor fact.
 * 1)  An interesting item of trivia; a minor fact.
 * 1)  An interesting item of trivia; a minor fact.
 * 1)  An interesting item of trivia; a minor fact.

Usage notes
The more recent and contradictory meaning “minor fact” is gradually supplanting the original sense.

Translations

 * Finnish: näennäistotuus
 * Portuguese:
 * Spanish: factoide
 * Swedish:, vandringssägen,