factual
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to facts; concerning facts.
factual accuracy.
-
based on or restricted to facts.
a factual report.
adjective
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of, relating to, or characterized by facts
-
of the nature of fact; real; actual
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of factual
First recorded in 1825–35; fact + -ual, after actual or effectual
Explanation
If something is factual, it can be proven, like your mother's story about the bear that is factual because she took a picture of it standing next to the family car. Something factual is real. It is based in fact, meaning it can be proven, repeated or observed. In fact, fact is the root of the word factual, from the Latin word factum, meaning "event, occurrence." The factual part of a story is the part that really happened — the rest gets more outlandish every time someone tells it. Evidence makes something factual.
Vocabulary lists containing factual
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Make Do: Fac
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The Real Deal: Synonyms for "True"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Darcy’s sources said Weiss’ objections were not confined to a single factual assertion but ranged far more broadly, and that some on the team were unsure the report would even air at all.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
Regulators have focused on bank solvency, management capabilities and community banking needs—all concrete, factual criteria.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
You know, normally in First Amendment cases, there is a factual dispute about the motivations of government action.
From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2026
Earl Spencer has apologised to Piers Morgan over a factual error in his new book about Diana, Princess of Wales.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Even though I’d finally figured out these were expressions and not the plain, factual truth, I expected Cecile Johnson to, at the very least, be bad off.
From "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
