Canard

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Canard

[noun] An unfounded rumour or story

/kəˈnɑːrd/

[ kan-ARD ]

🔊 Hear it

Example

The story about the celebrity being a spy was a total canard.

Synonyms

Hoax, fabrication, falsehood, urban legend

Etymology

From the French word for "duck" or "hoax". The term possibly originated from the phrase "vendre des canards à moitié" ("to half-sell ducks"), which meant "to trick or deceive."

Mini Dialogue

Olivia: Did you hear that the company is moving?
Liam: I'm pretty sure that's a canard; they just signed a new lease here.

Which of these is an example of a canard?

A politician's promise to lower taxes.

A proven scientific fact.

A widely circulated but false story about a public figure.

The opposite of what Donald trump does.

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