Canard: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the French term for 'duck' and originally referred to a duck decoy, which is designed to mislead real ducks.
• It was first used in English in the 19th century to describe a type of deception or trickery, playing on the idea of leading someone astray.

Media & Communication

• Canards can often be found in tabloids or sensationalist news articles, where exaggeration is used to attract readers.
• The term has gained traction in modern journalism where misinformation is prevalent, highlighting the importance of fact-checking.

Literature

• Canards may serve as plot devices in literature, guiding characters or readers to misunderstandings that advance the story.
• Authors may use canards to reflect themes of deception, encouraging readers to discern truth from falsehood.

Psychology

• The spread of canards taps into cognitive biases; people often believe and share information that confirms their existing beliefs.
• Society's tendency to accept canards can lead to phenomena like 'confirmation bias,' illustrating how false information can distort reality.

History

• Throughout history, political discourse has been rife with canards, impacting public opinion and electoral outcomes.
• In World War I, rumors and misinformation were used as propaganda tactics to shape enemy perceptions and demoralize troops.

This word's position of #31,621 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

• ...
• 31618 boorish
• 31619 impersonating
• 31620 determinist
• 31621 canard
• 31622 sidekick
• 31623 monstrously
• 31624 scintilla
• ...