factual
Americanadjective
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of or relating to facts; concerning facts.
factual accuracy.
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based on or restricted to facts.
a factual report.
adjective
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of, relating to, or characterized by facts
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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.
Representatives for Cotality and Factual Data, two of the largest tri-merge resellers, said the companies haven’t decided whether to participate.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025
Factual parentage was all that mattered under the law.
From Slate • Sep. 5, 2025
The company in September said it acquired The Factual, a company that uses algorithms to evaluate the trustworthiness of news websites.
From New York Times • Nov. 28, 2022
Patrick Holland, BBC head of Factual, Arts and Classical Music Television, said that as well as being "one of our funniest comedians" Pascoe is "passionate about the inspirational impact" of the show.
From BBC • Sep. 16, 2021
Factual material, however disguised, often shines through its fictional background.
From Indirection by Freas, Kelly
Definitions 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.
