A factoid is defined as either a 'small piece of information that is often easy to find' or 'an invented or assumed statement presented as a fact' [3][1]. The term was coined by Norman Mailer in 1973 to describe items that become accepted as truth even if they are not actually true, often appearing in print [4][1]. While factoids can be trivial or brief pieces of information, they may also refer to 'unreliable information that is repeated so often that it becomes accepted as fact,' leading to misconceptions and urban legends [5][6]. Over time, the meaning has evolved, and factoids are now also understood as interesting but minor details [4][1].

What is a factoid?

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