fact

English

Etymology

From Old French fact, from Latin factum (“an act, deed, feat, etc.”); also Medieval Latin for “state, condition, circumstance”; neuter of factus (“done or made”), perfect passive participle of faciō (“do, make”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- (“to put, place, set”). Old/Middle French later evolved it into faict and fait. Doublet of feat.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fækt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ækt

Noun

fact (countable and uncountable, plural facts)

1. Something actual as opposed to invented.

   In this story, the Gettysburg Address is a fact, but the rest is fiction.

   • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest‎^[1]:

     Mother […] considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, from which every Kensingtonian held aloof, except on the conventional tip-and-run excursions in pursuit of shopping, tea and theatres.

2. Something which is real.

   Gravity is a fact, not a theory.

3. Something concrete used as a basis for further interpretation.

   Let's look at the facts of the case before deciding.

4. An objective consensus on a fundamental reality that has been agreed upon by a substantial number of experts.

   There is no doubting the fact that the Earth orbits the Sun.

   • Objective definition

     Of or relating to a material object, actual existence or reality. (1 of 6 objective definitions)

   • Consensus definition

     A process of decision-making that seeks widespread agreement among group members. (1 of 4 consensus definitions)

   • Fundamental definition

     A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the groundwork of a system; an essential part (1 of 3 fundamental definitions)

   • Reality definition

     The state of being actual or real. (1 of 6 reality definitions)

   • Experts definition

     plural of expert
5. Information about a particular subject, especially actual conditions and/or circumstances.

   The facts about space travel.

6. (databases) An individual value or measurement at the lowest level of granularity in a data warehouse.

   • Database definition

     A collection of (usually) organized information in a regular structure, usually but not necessarily in a machine-readable format accessible by a computer. (1 of 4 database definitions)

   • Value definition

     The quality (positive or negative) that renders something desirable or valuable. (1 of 11 value definitions)

   • Measurement definition

     The act of measuring. (1 of 2 measurement definitions)

   • Granularity definition

     The condition of being granular (1 of 2 granularity definitions)

   • Data Warehouse definition

     A collection of data, from a variety of sources, organized to provide useful guidance to an organization's decision-makers.
7. (archaic) Action; the realm of action.
   • 1622, Francis Bacon, The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh, page 1:

     After that Richard, the third of that name, king in fact only, but tyrant both in title and regiment […] was […] overthrown and slain at Bosworth Field; there succeeded in the kingdom […] Henry the Seventh.

   • Action definition

     The effort of performing or doing something. (1 of 16 action definitions)
8. (law, obsolete except in set phrases) A wrongful or criminal deed.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Qveene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for VVilliam Ponsonbie, OCLC 960102938, book III, canto ix:

     She was empassiond at that piteous act, / With zelous enuy of Greekes cruell fact, / Against that nation [...].

   • 1819, T. Howell, A Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and Other Crimes and Misdemeanors:

     Gentlemen of the Jury, I think I need say but little on this matter: They all confess the fact of which they stand indicted. Some of them were old offenders, and all of them were proved to be at the taking of capt. Manwareing's sloop, and all took their shares: so that I think the fact is very fully and clearly proved upon them.

   He had become an accessory after the fact.

   • Law definition

     The body of binding rules and regulations, customs, and standards established in a community by its legislative and judicial authorities. (1 of 20 law definitions)
9. (obsolete) A feat or meritorious deed.
   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], part 1, 2nd edition, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, OCLC 932920499; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene ii:

     UUho when he ſhal embrace you in his arms
     UUil tell how many thouſand men he ſlew.
     And when you looke for amorous diſcourſe,
     Will rattle foorth his facts of war and blood:
     Too harſh a ſubiect for your daintie eares.

   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:

     When he who most excels in fact of arms,

   • Feat definition

     A relatively rare or difficult accomplishment.

Antonyms

• (Something actual): fiction
• (Something objective): opinion

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• value
• belief

References

• fact at OneLook Dictionary Search.
• fact in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• fact in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• "Conway: 'Alternative Facts'" Merriam-Webster's Trend Watch Merriam-Webster. 2017.

Interjection

fact

1. Used before making a statement to introduce it as a trustworthy one.

Anagrams

• acft