fact

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Something that is known to be true and can be checked.

   Grammar: Countable: facts, a fact.

   Patterns

   • the fact that something
   • a fact about something

   It is a fact that water boils at a lower temperature on a mountain.

   Check your facts before you write.

   The fact that he lied surprised us.

2. 2noununcountable

   What is real or actually true, as opposed to belief or fiction.

   Grammar: Uncountable: fact and fiction.

   Patterns

   • in fact
   • as a matter of fact

   The story is based on fact.

   He couldn't tell fact from fiction.

   In fact, we met last year.

Word forms

Common combinations

in fact

In fact, she is a doctor.

the fact that

The fact that it rained mattered.

hard facts

Hard facts.

fact-check

Fact-check the claim.

as a matter of fact

As a matter of fact, I do.

Synonyms and how they differ

truth

Broader; may include moral truth.

reality

The actual state of things.

detail

A small piece of information, not always true.

Opposites

Word family

factual adjective

based on facts

factually adverb

in terms of facts

Commonly confused: fact or fiction?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fact”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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