factoid?

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>Perhaps 'fact-like thing' ? -AB

Exactly.

The RH dictionary gives this definition: "something fictitious or
unsubstantiated that is presented as fact, devised esp. to gain publicity
and accepted because of constant repetition."

A variation which I heard from somebody recently -- possibly a personal
coinage -- is "falsoid", apparently = "a factoid which is clearly false".

-- Doug Wilson