canard

/kæ'nɑ:d/

Thân thiện

A journalist exposed the political canard during the press conference.

Definition

Noun: 1. A false or baseless story or report, especially one deliberately fabricated to mislead or deceive. This term specifically refers to a hoax or a piece of misinformation presented as fact, often spread through news media or gossip. 2. An unfounded rumor or a sensational lie. It implies the information is not only untrue but is also designed to be believed and circulated.

Usage and Examples

• As a subject of a sentence:
  • The newspaper published a canard about the celebrity's retirement, causing unnecessary panic among fans.
  • That story about the company's bankruptcy is a complete canard.
• As an object of a sentence:
  • The politician quickly denied the canard spread by his opponents.
  • She exposed the canard for what it was: a malicious lie.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Journalistic and Political Context: The word is often used in formal contexts like journalism, politics, or academia to describe a specific type of deceptive story, distinguishing it from a simple mistake or unverified rumor. It carries a connotation of intentional deceit.
  • The investigative report was dedicated to debunking the long-standing canard that had influenced public policy for years.
• Historical Usage: The term originates from the French word for "duck," possibly from an old French expression involving selling half a duck, implying a trick or swindle.

Variants and Related Words

• Canards (plural noun): The standard plural form.
  • The internet is rife with canards about health and science.
• Related Concept: Hoax (noun): A humorous or malicious deception. While similar, a "hoax" can be a playful trick, whereas a "canard" is almost always malicious and news-related.
• Related Concept: Fabrication (noun): Something invented or concocted, often synonymous but less specific to news stories.

Synonyms

• Falsehood: A statement that is not true.
• Lie: A false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive.
• Rumor: A currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.
• Misinformation: False or inaccurate information, especially that which is deliberately spread.

Antonyms

• Truth: That which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.
• Fact: A thing that is known or proved to be true.
• Verity: A true principle or belief.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• "To propagate/spread a canard": To actively circulate a false story.
  • Certain groups are known to propagate canards to sow discord.
• "To debunk/dispel a canard": To prove a false story wrong.
  • The scientist held a press conference to debunk the dangerous canard about vaccines.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a deliberately misleading fabrication