Factoids and Babies

I used the word "factoid" today and realized I just might not know what it means. Indeed, when I looked it up, Washington State advised me not to use the term, stating: The “-oid” ending in English is normally added to a word to indicate that an item is not the real thing. A humanoid is not quite human. Originally “factoid” was an ironic term indicating that the “fact” being offered was not actually factual. However, CNN and other sources have taken to treating the “-oid” as if it were a mere diminutive, and using the term to mean “trivial but true fact.” As a result, the definition of “factoid” is hopelessly confused and it’s probably better to avoid using the term altogether.

I use it to mean not terribly precise, but close enough-- short facts of interest and worthy of storing for future use. These "facts" are usually out of date as soon as they are written down. My sense actually captures both parts--not quite true and short. The crux of the word seems to me not absolute truth but truth as a moving target.

There is an interesting video that gives many facts/factoids that will rapidly change. At one point the video states that during the time I was watching, 67 babies were born in the US, along with 274 in China and 395 in India. Obviously, these numbers--factoids--will change. They may be close to what is happening, but certainly 67 babies at the 4 minute and 30 second point of the video is a bit too precise for me to believe... and what if I stopped it before getting the Chinese or Indian number.

The point is that factoid is a perfectly good term (and precision in babies over 4.5 minutes is impossible) and very useful in our era of changing information. So, Mr. Webster, do I get the job?