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• matter of fact
  matter of fact

  noun

  something of a factual nature, as an actual occurrence.
• matter-of-fact
  matter-of-fact

  adjective

  adhering strictly to fact; not imaginative; prosaic; dry; commonplace.

matter of fact

¹ American  

noun

1. something of a factual nature, as an actual occurrence.

2. Law. a statement or allegation to be judged on the basis of the evidence.

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matter-of-fact ² American  

[mat-er-uhv-fakt] / ˈmæt ər əvˈfækt /

adjective

1. adhering strictly to fact; not imaginative; prosaic; dry; commonplace.

   a matter-of-fact account of the political rally.

2. direct or unemotional; straightforward; down-to-earth.

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matter of fact British  

noun

1. a fact that is undeniably true

2. law a statement of facts the truth of which the court must determine on the basis of the evidence before it Compare matter of law

3. philosophy a proposition that is amenable to empirical testing, as contrasted with the truths of logic or mathematics

4. actually; in fact

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adjective

1. unimaginative or emotionless

   he gave a matter-of-fact account of the murder

Other Word Forms

• matter-of-factness
  noun
• matter-of-factly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of matter of fact¹

First recorded in 1575–85

Origin of matter-of-fact²

First recorded in 1705–15

Explanation

Someone who's matter-of-fact is straightforward and unemotional. Your matter-of-fact friend won't get upset when her dog runs away — she'll call him calmly until he returns. Matter-of-fact things aren't fancy or stylish; they just tell it like it is. A matter-of-fact letter to the editor is practical and factual, and a kid's matter-of-fact apology for breaking his neighbor's window will take responsibility and offer a sincere "I'm sorry." A matter-of-fact news report doesn't sensationalize facts, but simply states them. Originally, matter-of-fact was a legal term meaning "portion of an enquiry concerned with truth or falsehood."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

matter of fact matter-of-fact

“As a matter of fact, I haven’t blown any money going to the Knicks in the NBA Finals in over 25 years.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

“As a matter of fact, he got on the piano with me and played it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

Dubois - never one for lengthy monologues - kept his answers short and matter of fact.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

As a matter of fact, 15 years ago, this golfing classic was proclaimed by the locals to be the biggest sporting event ever in the country of Wales.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2025

He hadn’t said pea-turkey to me, as a matter of fact, since I cut his wood too long.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

Instead, in Maugham’s estimation, he was “this laborious, honest, matter-of-fact man” who painted—when at his best—“as though the grace of God had descended upon him.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

It’s very sentimental — which the novel, with its matter-of-fact, if sensually evocative prose, and it’s child’s eye view, is not.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

“All the President’s Men” underscores that sentiment with its matter-of-fact final shot, watching a teletype machine writing out years of front-page headlines leading to Nixon’s resignation.

From Salon ● Mar. 7, 2026

Any conversation she does have about her work are matter-of-fact and brief, she said.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026

“Now—” he said, trying to sound matter-of-fact, but having to turn away from Mary all the same, “I’ve got to break the knife.”

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• deadpan
• down-to-earth
• factual
• pragmatic
• sober
• stoic
• unvarnished