facts

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Pieces of information that can be checked and shown to be true, as opposed to guesses or opinions.

   Grammar: Plural of fact; used with plural verbs: the facts are clear.

   Patterns

   • the facts about something
   • the facts of something

   Before you argue, check your facts.

   The report sets out the facts of the case in plain language.

   Journalists must separate facts from rumor.

2. 2nounplural

   The real details of a situation, especially those needed to judge it properly.

   Grammar: Often appears in fixed phrases such as the facts of life.

   Patterns

   • the facts of the matter
   • get the facts

   The police are still gathering the facts of the accident.

   Once she knew the facts, she changed her mind.

   Parents should be given the facts about the new school schedule.

Word forms

Common combinations

check the facts

Please check the facts before you publish the story.

hard facts

The manager wanted hard facts, not guesses.

stick to the facts

The witness was told to stick to the facts.

the facts of life

His grandfather explained the facts of life with some embarrassment.

facts and figures

The brochure is full of facts and figures about the town.

Synonyms and how they differ

data

Data usually means raw measurements or numbers, while facts are statements already understood to be true.

information

Information is uncountable and may be true or false, but facts must be true.

truths

Truths can be moral or personal, while facts are things that can be checked.

details

Details are small particular points, whereas facts can be big or small but are always true.

Opposites

Word family

fact noun

a single true piece of information

factual adjective

based on facts

factually adverb

in a way that relates to facts

fact-check verb

to verify the claims in a statement

Commonly confused: facts or factors?

Practice

Make it your own

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

Explore more words