fictoid 

A factoid that is false or unsupported by evidence, but gets into public circulation anyway. Once it is repeated and quoted enough times, it gains a life of its own, and people assume it is true because they get it from multiple sources, even though the original source is flawed or unverified, or the information turns out to be false.

One common fictoid is the idea that people need to drink 8 glasses of water a day to be healthy. There's no sound basis for this recommendation, but it is quoted and given as advice frequently.

Recently (as of new years 2009), one of the big news stories has been the collapse of a fraudulent investment fund run by Bernard Madoff, which turned out to be a ponzi scheme. Although it takes months to go through the records to figure out how much money was involved, an initial estimate was that "up to $50 billion dollars may have been lost". Despite the fact that this was an initial best guess rather than the result of actual auditing, and despite the fact that even a clear definition of "money lost" in this case is vague, this $50 billion estimate has become a fictoid, and is being repeated in the press. Plenty of people believe that it is well accepted that $50 billion is the amount of money that was lost in this fraudulent scheme.

fictoid by my name is Cos January 11, 2009

Fictoid 

An item of reliable information that is reported and repeated so often that is not believed to be a fact and can be seen as fictonal.

"Hey, did you hear that they made smoking marijuana legal in England?"

"I don't know why you believe that, its such a fictoid."

Fictoid by mrsmonkeybutt March 17, 2023

Factoid 

A very small fact. Usually used when one wishes to express what a small fact his fellow peer has just spoken upon.

The word can also be used as an insult, in the simple context of expressing that the speaker of the fact is actually saying such a small fact that it is a factoid, therefore being painfully obvious. Sort of another way of saying no shit sherlock.

Friend: "Yo, Justin Beiber is bad!"
Me: "Straight Factoids!"

Or

Friend: "Did you know, Spongebob is a sponge?"
Me: "Bruh, that's a factoid, wtf"

Factoid by Bumpoclat June 14, 2020

factoid 

a not-entirely-true or documentable "fact" that can be used alone or used to embellish a story;

see Anneism

During the Anneism spouted by Gertrude, the factoids were flying fast and furious.

factoid by Shmouse May 20, 2005

Factoids 

Facts or factos. Means that something is correct. The word is created my the NOMADIC MANJI GANG, making the word one of the most important words ever.

Friend: My grandma died, she’s happy in heaven and stuff
Me: factoids

Factoids by NOMADIC March 29, 2022

Factoided 

Fac-toi-ded: Factoided is the verb used to announce someones previous statement or sentence was factually incorrect.
The word derives from Maeve Murphy's Gibberish.

Sam: Ben Franklin was a president
Maeve: Naaaaa... Factoided

Factoided by Megladonrider June 1, 2020

factoid 

1)A fact that may or may not be true, but is trivial in nature. The source of the factoid has questionable authenticity.

2) A verified fact in a compact sentance.

1) 76% of all facts are wrong

2) Bush is a moron

factoid by Gunkglumb May 24, 2005