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.

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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

I give it the first AI’s research memo and ask it to make a list of every single factual assertion, and then, to fact-check each claim several ways.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 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

“It is not for me to fact-check for the county,” she told Judge Lawrence Riff at a court hearing Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026

She also attempted to fact-check the allegations that DHS made about the civilians and their arrests.

From Salon • Jan. 14, 2026

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

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025