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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

"There was no different emotion," Roberts said, adding Pike "was very matter of fact about it".

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

“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

“As a matter of fact, the amount of work I did last year has not been affected in terms of preparation,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2026

“As a matter of fact, it is” Ekon pretended to inspect his fingernails.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Jean Milburn, Anderson’s humorously matter-of-fact sex therapist from the series “Sex Education,” represented a watershed beginning in 2019.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

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

Most of the stories are matter-of-fact, and Bertei avoids the absolute worst consequences for a while before she can’t outrun it any more.

From Salon ● Apr. 14, 2026

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

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026

After all, we cannot afford to be anything but matter-of-fact.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

Related Words

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