factoid
UK[ˈfæktɔɪd]US[ˈfækˌtɔɪd]
n
a brief or trivial item of news or information.
n
an assumption or speculation that is reported and repeated so often that it becomes accepted as fact.
Morpheme Breakdown
fact
oid
fact
true thing
oid
resembling
Etymology
the word 'factoid' is a modern english coinage, blending the latin-derived root 'fact' with the greek-derived suffix '-oid'. it was created by the writer norman mailer in his 1973 biography of marilyn monroe to describe a piece of information that is not true but becomes accepted through constant repetition in media. the literal construction, 'resembling a fact', perfectly captures this deceptive quality. while its original meaning emphasized falsity, common usage has since broadened to also denote a small, often trivial, nugget of information, retaining the core idea of something that has the superficial appearance of a fact but may lack its substance or significance.
Analysis
Structure: fact (true thing) + oid (resembling)
fact (from latin 'factum', meaning 'thing done, deed, act'; serves as the core noun root). oid (from greek '-oeidēs', via latin '-oides', meaning 'having the form of, resembling'; serves as an adjective-forming suffix).
Examples
the article was filled with interesting factoids about the sleeping habits of animals.
the common belief that we only use ten percent of our brains is a persistent factoid.
he entertained the guests with a few amusing factoids about the history of the city.