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fact

noun
\ ˈfakt How to pronounce fact (audio) \

Definition of fact

1a : something that has actual existence space exploration is now a fact
b : an actual occurrence prove the fact of damage
2 : a piece of information presented as having objective reality These are the hard facts of the case.
3 : the quality of being actual : actuality a question of fact hinges on evidence
4 : a thing done: such as
a : crime accessory after the fact
b archaic : action
c obsolete : feat
5 archaic : performance, doing
in fact
: in truth He looks younger, but in fact, he is 60 years old.
Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about fact

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Synonyms & Antonyms for fact

Synonyms

actuality, factuality, materiality, reality

Antonyms

irreality, unreality

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Examples of fact in a Sentence

Rapid electronic communication is now a fact. The book is filled with interesting facts and figures. He did it, and that's a fact.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 And despite the fact that damage to the building was deemed merely superficial and no fatalities were recorded, within two days, celebrities and billionaires, including French fashion house, Dior, had donated $1bn towards restoration efforts. — Rose Stokes, refinery29.com, "Environmental Horror & Political Scandal: What You Need To Know About The Amazon Rainforest Fires," 24 Aug. 2019 The fact that more adventure-seeking travelers are crossing Rwanda’s borders each year suggests the world agrees. — Fortune, "Rwanda’s Newest Luxury Safari Lodge Offers a Plush Sanctuary for Your Next Getaway," 24 Aug. 2019 Our internal data -- percentage of students reading at or above grade level in kindergarten to eighth grade, 73 percent, and percentage of students hitting math fact fluency benchmarks by grade level, 65 percent -- continue to improve. — Jesse Leavenworth, courant.com, "Manchester school board chairman talks about progress and goals for the new school year and his role as the board’s first African American leader," 24 Aug. 2019 Self-advocacy is being able to have an unemotional dialogue rooted in facts that demonstrate the value one adds to their company and employer. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Taking what she learned about self-advocacy and sharing it with others to close the gender pay gap," 24 Aug. 2019 But, to many in tennis, the lack of legitimate challengers—and the fact that the gap between the top players and the field only seems to be growing—has become disconcerting. — Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, "FĂ©lix Auger-Aliassime Is Trying to Stay Calm," 24 Aug. 2019 And that forever changed the political discourse, to where now, any credible Republican politician who wants to raise enough money for re-election cannot even acknowledge basic facts of science. — Emily Atkin, The New Republic, "How David Koch Changed The World," 23 Aug. 2019 The Amazon remains a net source of oxygen today -- despite the fact that about 20% of the world's total carbon dioxide emissions are caused by deforestation. — Susan Scutti, CNN, "Here's what we know about the fires in the Amazon rainforest," 23 Aug. 2019 The fact that her New York dates fall during the collections isn’t lost on Belyaeva. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "How Sasha Belyaeva Went From Muse to Musician," 23 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fact.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of fact

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

History and Etymology for fact

borrowed from Latin factum "deed, action, real event," noun derivative from neuter of factus, past participle of facere "to make, bring about, perform, do," going back to a suffixed form *dhh1-k-iÌŻe- (with perfect fēcÄ« from *dheh1-k-) of Indo-European *dhh1-, dheh1- "put, place, make, do" — more at do entry 1

Note: The extension *-k- has been compared with the Greek extended aorist Ă©thēka "I placed" (corresponding to present tĂ­thēmi "I set, put, placed"), apparently parallel to Latin jaciƍ, jacere "to throw" and Greek hĂȘka "I threw" (see jet entry 3); though the identity of the two formatives has been disputed.

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More Definitions for fact

fact

noun
How to pronounce fact (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of fact

: something that truly exists or happens : something that has actual existence
: a true piece of information

See the full definition for fact in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fact

noun
\ ˈfakt How to pronounce fact (audio) \

Kids Definition of fact

1 : something that really exists or has occurred Space travel is now a fact.
2 : a true piece of information “I just know for a fact that she has a huge family to feed!”— Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
in fact
: in truth : actually She got there early and in fact she was earliest.

fact

noun

Legal Definition of fact

1 : something that has actual existence : a matter of objective reality
2 : any of the circumstances of a case that exist or are alleged to exist in reality : a thing whose actual occurrence or existence is to be determined by the evidence presented at trial — see also finding of fact at finding, judicial notice, question of fact at question, trier of fact — compare law, opinion
— adjudicative fact
: a fact particularly related to the parties to an especially administrative proceeding — compare legislative fact in this entry
— collateral fact
: a fact that has no direct relation to or immediate bearing on the case or matter in question — compare material fact in this entry
— constitutional fact
: a fact that relates to the determination of a constitutional issue (as violation of a constitutional right) —used especially of administrative findings of fact
— evidentiary fact
: a fact that is part of the situation from which a case arises and that is established by testimony or other evidence

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