Factoid means: An inaccurate statement or statistic believed to be true because of broad repetition, especially if cited in the media.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
factoid
An inaccurate statement or statistic believed to be true because of broad repetition, especially if cited in the media.
Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
A nice little factoid in here to remember when we rely on self reported wealth to calibrate inequality with respect to the 1%
View source
BlueskyMay 2026
him and Dave Navarro! neat little factoid
View source
BlueskyMay 2026
Factoid: In 1993 Ford promoted driver airbags as being fitted as standard for their cars (& vans) for the 1994 model year, but that wasn’t all…(1)
View source
BlueskyMay 2026
after several factoid based research heavy essays in a row im just gonna write about how tuna melts are a comfort & safety food for me
View source
BlueskyMay 2026
lol. I remember when the song and video dropped and I’m just learning this factoid today. Thanks for the knowledge. Bummer about their lack of knowledge.
View source
Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
An inaccurate statement or statistic believed to be true because of broad repetition, especially if cited in the media.
Wikipedia-derived factoids can be so important that there is a well-known feedback loop, called citogenesis, in which the mainstream news finds some claim made in a Wikipedia article, and publishes it (without citing Wikipedia). Then Wik…
Origin: From ; in Marilyn: A Biography, 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". Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Factoid means: An inaccurate statement or statistic believed to be true because of broad repetition, especially if cited in the media.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
factoid means: An inaccurate statement or statistic believed to be true because of broad repetition, especially if cited in the media.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Cluster: general
Was this helpful?
Comments
#2·Apr 27, 2026
(originally, North America) An interesting item of trivia; a minor fact.
Wikipedia-derived factoids can be so important that there is a well-known feedback loop, called citogenesis, in which the mainstream news finds some claim made in a Wikipedia article, and publishes it (without citing Wikipedia). Then Wik…
Heard in the wild
“A nice little factoid in here to remember when we rely on self reported wealth to calibrate inequality with respect to the 1%”
— Bluesky· May 2026“him and Dave Navarro! neat little factoid”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Factoid: In 1993 Ford promoted driver airbags as being fitted as standard for their cars (& vans) for the 1994 model year, but that wasn’t all…(1)”
— Bluesky· May 2026“after several factoid based research heavy essays in a row im just gonna write about how tuna melts are a comfort & safety food for me”
— Bluesky· May 2026“lol. I remember when the song and video dropped and I’m just learning this factoid today. Thanks for the knowledge. Bummer about their lack of knowledge.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Was this helpful?
Comments
For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "factoid".
🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "factoid" (F)
Browse all slang words starting with F.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- facturd67%
(slang, pejorative, mildly, _, vulgar) A particularly dubious, distasteful, or irrelevant factoid.
- bullshit61%
Any assertions or information that are either false or misleading.
- dirt60%
Previously unknown facts or rumors about a person.
- bogus59%
Based on false or misleading information or unjustified assumptions.