fact
Americannoun
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that which actually exists or is the case; reality or truth.
Your fears have no basis in fact.
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something known to exist or to have happened.
Space travel is now a fact.
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a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true.
Scientists gather facts about plant growth.
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something said to be true or supposed to have happened.
The facts given by the witness are highly questionable.
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Law. Often facts. an actual or alleged event or circumstance relevant to a case, as distinguished from the legal effect of that event or circumstance.
interjection
idioms
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before the fact, prior to the commission of a crime.
an accessory before the fact.
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after the fact, after the commission of a crime.
an accessory after the fact.
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in fact, actually; really; indeed.
In fact, it was a wonder that anyone survived.
noun
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an event or thing known to have happened or existed
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a truth verifiable from experience or observation
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a piece of information
get me all the facts of this case
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law (often plural) an actual event, happening, etc, as distinguished from its legal consequences. Questions of fact are decided by the jury, questions of law by the court or judge
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philosophy a proposition that may be either true or false, as contrasted with an evaluative statement
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criminal law after the commission of the offence
an accessory after the fact
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criminal law before the commission of the offence
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in reality or actuality
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an inescapable truth, esp an unpleasant one
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the truth
Other Word Forms
- factful adjective
Etymology
Origin of fact
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin factum “something done, deed,” noun use of neuter of factus “done,” past participle of facere “to do, make”; do 1
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.
In fact, she said she "loved" the fact someone had worn it before her.
From BBC
But what sets this incident apart is the fact that it resulted in a criminal case, and that a non-professional climber was held responsible.
From BBC
"Navigating what I've been going through, the fact I have my own place and car, I can't even imagine not being able to look after myself," she says.
From BBC
Again, the reason is primarily due to the fact that far fewer men end up leaving the company when a relationship ends.
Even then, the public is responding without the full facts or a full context, as they do in most polls.
From Salon
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.
