Vocabulary Spotlight
Canard
Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: An unfounded rumor or story; a fabricated report or hoax.
“The politician dismissed the claims as a canard meant to discredit him.”
Pronunciation
[kuh-nahrd]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Hoax
Myth
Fabrication
Fable
Antonyms
Fact
Reality
Authenticity
Certainty
Related Words
Rumor (noun)
Word Origin
The term “canard” originated in French in the mid-19th century. It literally means “duck,” and evolved as slang to mean a false or exaggerated report. The idiom may relate to a fable about selling half a duck to suggest trickery or deception.
Word Family
Noun: Canard – An unfounded or false report.
Noun: Canardist – One who spreads false stories.
Mnemonics
Think of “Canard” as “Can’ardly believe” – it’s so unbelievable, it must be false.
Industry-specific Usage
Journalism
In journalism, a “canard” is used to describe a fabricated or sensationalized story presented as news.
Politics
Political campaigns often refer to opponents’ attacks as “canards” to imply they are baseless rumors.
Entertainment
Canards frequently emerge as celebrity rumors that are later debunked as gossip.
In Context
In both media and casual conversation, canards can circulate quickly, often spreading misinformation and shaping opinions based on exaggeration or falsity.