fact-check

American  

[fakt-chek] / ˈfæktˌtʃɛk /

verb (used with object)

1. to confirm the truth of (an assertion made in speech or writing), often as part of the research or editorial process.

---

noun

1. the action of confirming the truth of an assertion made in speech or writing.

   A fact-check of the senator’s speech revealed several misleading comments about his opponent.

Other Word Forms

• fact-checker noun
• fact-checking noun

Etymology

Origin of fact-check

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Still, reporters and editors say AI isn’t ready to fully replace humans in local newsrooms and they need to fact-check the material produced by Claude, Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Analysis by Nepali online fact-check experts TechPana found the images had been created using OpenAI's ChatGPT, while police said less than 5,000 people were at the real event.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

The Chinese Embassy said the allegations of "forced labor" in her reports "cannot withstand basic fact-check".

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025

They are considered more akin to censorship than fact-check labels.

From Salon • Jun. 17, 2025

Of seven “new” claims addressed in the fact-check, Meta says that the company “refuted” only two.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2025