Word of the Day: HYPERSTITION

A cultural self-fulfilling prophecy

hyperstition (noun) - a belief or story that comes real or true and spreads through its very existence; a fiction that makes itself a fact [hahy-per-stish-uhn]

BREAKDOWN: HYPER- (above, beyond) + STIT- (stand) + -ION (quality)

• superstition is a belief in, fear of, or reverence for something not provably true

See also: armistice, interstitial, obstinate

“The thing to understand is that meaning itself is a cultural hyperstition. He had to look that word up the first time he saw it in a post. What it means is, like, the reverse of a superstition, i.e., something a lot of people believe even though it isn’t true.” —Justin Taylor

[Fun Word Friday introduces more advanced or technical words that are based on word roots. Yes, these words may still be tested on standardized exams. Try to use this word in a sentence today!]