failnomenon 

A term describing a person, event or thing with no redeeming qualities that still manages to become really famous or popular (usually for no good reason at all). Derived from combining the words "fail" and "phenomenon."

Girl: "I'm going to watch the new Madea tonight!! Wanna come?"
Guy: "I'd rather gouge my eyes out than support the Tyler Perry failnomenon. No thanks."

Everyone thought Obama was gonna bring hope, but he turned out to be the biggest failnomenon since the Backstreet Boys.

failnomenon by ChinchillaChenel September 11, 2009

Fauxnomenon 

A fake (faux) phenomenon, usually picked up on by the news-media, using bogus or highly unusual anecdotes to construct a false 'trend'.

Media outlets from the New York Times to Fox News absolutely love these, because they fill column space and news time, anyone can comment on them / write them and appear informed without actual research or investigative work, and they make for 'sexy' stories.

Common features of fauxnomenon stories include: Teens, sex, drugs, teens and sex, teens and drugs, teens and sex and drugs.

These types of fauxnomenon stories are often called 'moral panic' stories.

Mom: "Hey there honey, you haven't been going to Rainbow Parties, have you? It's where girls all get different colors of lipstick, and then they blow every boy at the party until their penises look like rainbows! I know kids are doing it these days because I saw it on Fox and CNN and Oprah, and I'm worried. They wouldn't put it on TV if it weren't true."

Daughter: "Mom, that's just a fauxnomenon! It's designed to play on your fear of teen sex and drum up ratings."

Mom: "Really?"

Daughter: "Yeah. That jenkem thing is totally legit, though."

Fauxnomenon by Televangelist June 3, 2009

finomenon 

An interesting/amazing fact or performance regarding our scaly gill-breathing underwater-inhabiting friends.

I've never heard of an instance of flying fish's forming large "flocks" in the air, but if they did, that would certainly be an amazing finomenon to watch.

finomenon by QuacksO April 19, 2021

fanomenon 

An extra-impressive performance of either a motorized air-blower or a dedicated audience-member.

I smilingly asked the local church pianist to autograph the cassette-cards of some recordings I'd made of his lovely keyboard-performances; he'd had no idea that his humble playing would be such a fanomenon.

fanomenon by QuacksO January 13, 2025