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factive

[ fak-tiv ]

adjective

  1. (of a verb, adjective, or noun phrase) presupposing the truth of an embedded sentence that serves as complement, as realize in I didn't realize that he had left, which presupposes that it is true that he had left.


noun

  1. a factive expression.

factive

/ ˈfæktɪv /

adjective

  1. logic linguistics philosophy (of a linguistic context) giving rise to the presupposition that a sentence occurring in that context is true, as John regrets that Mary did not attend
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • fac·tivi·ty noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of factive1

First recorded in 1605–15; fact + -ive
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Example Sentences

Other drugs affected included the chest infection treatment Factive; Bactroban ointment, an antibiotic used to treat skin infections in babies; Kytril, an anti-nausea injection for cancer patients; and Tagamet, for heartburn and peptic ulcers.

The two products – the diabetes treatment, Avandamet, and Factive, which is used for chest infections – were subsequently approved by the regulator.

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