hoax
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhoʊks// UK //hˈəʊks// hoax
n. a lie or trick that people believe is true. Someone creates it to fool others.
n. a deception deliberately created to mislead the public or a specific audience into accepting a falsehood as fact.
The story about the alien was just a hoax.
Scientists proved the famous photo was a hoax created by a local artist.
The elaborate hoax fooled the entire town for weeks, demonstrating how easily collective belief can be manipulated by a single convincing narrative.
Reportedly a form of hocus. Possibly from hocus-pocus or Latin iocus (“joke”). Compare hokey.