fact

[ fakt ]

/ fækt /

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See synonyms for: fact / facts on Thesaurus.com

noun

something that actually exists; reality; truth: Your fears have no basis in fact.

something known to exist or to have happened: Space travel is now a fact.

a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true: Scientists gather facts about plant growth.

something said to be true or supposed to have happened: The facts given by the witness are highly questionable.

Law.Often facts. an actual or alleged event or circumstance, as distinguished from its legal effect or consequence.Compare question of fact, question of law.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about fact

after the fact, Law. after the commission of a crime: an accessory after the fact.

before the fact, Law. prior to the commission of a crime: an accessory before the fact.

in fact, actually; really; indeed: In fact, it was a wonder that anyone survived.

Origin of fact

1530–40; <Latin factum something done, deed, noun use of neuter of factus done, past participle of facere to do¹

OTHER WORDS FROM fact

factful, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fact

facts , FAQs, fax

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fact in a sentence

The challenge stems from the fact that rather than making learning better, the education technology field has, for the most part, focused on reaching more students.
Why hasn’t digital learning lived up to its promise?|Walter Thompson|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
In fact, the Orgonon estate—home of the museum—is located in a town called Rangeley.
This scientist thought he’d found the source of all sexual energy|PopSci Staff|September 17, 2020|Popular-Science
The fact that you have Ferguson, Missouri, or you have the south side in Chicago, the inability to deal with those problems is part of the architecture of the state.
Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is? (Ep. 408 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 17, 2020|Freakonomics
In fact, to-go cocktails could actually increase alcohol safety by promoting home consumption.
Bar Rescue: Pandemic Edition|jakemeth|September 15, 2020|Fortune

We now have studies that confirm the fact that hurricanes are becoming more destructive as the ocean heats up, providing more fuel for storm systems.
A nearly unprecedented cluster of tropical storms are brewing in the Atlantic|Sara Chodosh|September 15, 2020|Popular-Science
“Lockheed Martin has a long history of misrepresenting facts,” Wheeler added.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal|Dave Majumdar|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In honor of her big year, here are some little-known facts about the songstress, courtesy of BuzzFeed.
Some Taylor Swift Facts After A Massive Year|The Daily Beast Video|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of course, to call out pinkwashing is not to deny the facts.
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline|Jay Michaelson|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yet, the nutrition facts might not tell the whole story here.
Bulletproof Coffee and the Case for Butter as a Health Food|DailyBurn|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a country where talk is “cheap” and opinions are “a dime a dozen,” we give the facts special privileges and special status.
On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim|James Poulos|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Several pioneers familiar with the facts of the tragedy at the time of its occurrence were also present.
Among the Sioux|R. J. Creswell
And now I am going on to a review of the broad facts of the educational organization of our present world.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
I only draw your attention to the facts; which have been sufficiently patent to the world, whatever Lord Hartledon may think.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
These two phenomenal facts imply some strong antagonism to the priesthood and their system.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
The facts have been stated very simply, plus one brief general comment.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for fact

fact

/ (fækt) /

noun

an event or thing known to have happened or existed

a truth verifiable from experience or observation

a piece of informationget me all the facts of this case

law (often plural) an actual event, happening, etc, as distinguished from its legal consequences. Questions of fact are decided by the jury, questions of law by the court or judge

philosophy a proposition that may be either true or false, as contrasted with an evaluative statement

after the fact criminal law after the commission of the offencean accessory after the fact

before the fact criminal law before the commission of the offence

as a matter of fact, in fact or in point of fact in reality or actuality

fact of life an inescapable truth, esp an unpleasant one

the fact of the matter the truth

Derived forms of fact

factful, adjective

Word Origin for fact

C16: from Latin factum something done, from factus made, from facere to make

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with fact

fact

In addition to the idiom beginning with fact

facts of life

also see:

after the fact
in fact
is that a fact
matter of fact

fact

Idioms about fact

Origin of fact

OTHER WORDS FROM fact

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fact

Words related to fact

How to use fact in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fact

Derived forms of fact

Word Origin for fact

Other Idioms and Phrases with fact