Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.
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.
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."
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
Related Words
Funnomenom
(adj.)
Used to describe something that is fun and also of the nomnom nature. Usually relating to something that is eaten or drunk.
Used to describe something that is fun and also of the nomnom nature. Usually relating to something that is eaten or drunk.
Funnomenom by Maxine the great woman. January 28, 2009
Fenomeno
An Italian word, literally meaning "Phenomenon"
In colloquial contexts, it may be used as a way to say genius or freak.
In colloquial contexts, it may be used as a way to say genius or freak.
Fenomeno by Ohrtheon Luxfulgor December 5, 2022
More from Urban Dictionary
ulzzang
Ulzzang true definition is "best & "face" = best face in korean. They are basically people with above average looks, sometimes with the use of photoshop and haduri who post their pics online, some becoming internet celebrities.
ulzzang by `r i k kit t y February 26, 2008
Word of the Day on November 7, 2026
EBK
EBK stands for "Elite Ball Knowledge." 1 In internet slang, "ball knowledge" originally referred to a deep understanding of football/soccer or basketball, but it has evolved into a broader term for having a highly sophisticated, deep, or niche understanding of any specific topic (such as music, movies, or subcultures).
Yap Trap
Yap Trap by WolfieSnack November 4, 2026
Word of the Day on November 5, 2026
Blexas
Texas is categorized as a swing state in presidential elections, but has voted for Republicans more times than for Democrats in recent history. As such, as demographics change political alignments, some Democrats believe that Texas will vote blue, or Democratic, due to their Hispanic and African American voters, who often align themselves with the Democratic Party's liberal wing.
Blexas has been cited as possible in the upcoming decades, but only if Democrats continue to win the Hispanic vote in bigger margins.
Blexas has been cited as possible in the upcoming decades, but only if Democrats continue to win the Hispanic vote in bigger margins.
Ratfucker
Brought to public attention by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in the book on the fall of Richard Nixon, All The President’s Men, ratfucker was Nixon’s term for a political operative who sows chaos among opponents; an agent provocateur. It is thought to have originated among campus political rivalries at USC, and seems to have some usage in the US military.
Along with Nixon’s other ratfuckers, Roger Stone caused fights at otherwise peaceful Democratic Party protests to generate a false narrative that the Democrats were violent and dangerous.
Ratfucker by Ricky Ramjet November 2, 2017
Word of the Day on November 2, 2026