1. a piece of unverified or inaccurate information that is presented in the press as factual, often as part of a publicity effort, and that is then accepted as true because of frequent repetition 2. Usage Problem: a brief, somewhat interesting fact

Wow! I can’t believe how often this word is used incorrectly. David Pogue misused it recently in a New York Times column: “As I wrap up my ten-day tradeshow jaunt and try to remember what my wife and children look like, what I have for you today is a bunch of bullet points: little leftover interesting factoids I’ve been saving up.”