noun

canard

/kəˈnɑːrd/ · say it: kuh·NARD

a false, unfounded rumor

In From the Opinion Pages

In more detail

1. (noun) a false or misleading story or rumor that is spread to deceive people

2. (noun) a duck

Examples

1. The claim that the company was closing was just a canard spread by competitors.
2. We saw a canard swimming in the pond.

How to use canard

In contemporary English, canard typically refers to a deliberately misleading or false story circulated to deceive, often with an implication that it has gained some currency despite being baseless. It carries a tone of dismissal and is more formal or literary than synonyms like 'hoax' or 'lie'. The duck meaning is now primarily used in technical contexts (aeronautics) rather than everyday speech.

Common phrases

spread a canard
popular canard
urban canard
perpetuate a canard
debunk a canard

Synonyms

hoax · falsehood · rumor · fabrication · untruth

Opposites

truth · fact

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'canard' to mean simply any mistake or error, but it specifically denotes a false story that is spread or circulated, not just any falsehood or misstatement.

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