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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

“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

He is matter of fact about his achievement.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2025

As a matter of fact, Mama never asked me to pick anything anymore, except in our garden.

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

In her own matter-of-fact way, Grohl shrugs as she acknowledges the inescapable pressure of her last name.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

Experts have also cautioned users about taking chatbots' often matter-of-fact statements at face value, particularly when it comes to health and medical advice.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 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

“Deborah is Henrietta’s baby girl,” he said, very matter-of-fact.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Related Words

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