Literally the very next line: "Since the term's invention in 1973, it has become used to describe a brief or trivial item of news or information."

The intended meaning by Norman Mailer never took on in the states.

Literally you asserted:

> In British English a “factoid” is something that looks true but isn't.

I responded that

In British English a “factoid” is something that looks true but may or may not be true.

.. there's a difference.

So, a factoid being sometimes true, but not always... Is a factoid.

That’s arguable.