actual

 
Pronunciation: /ˈaktʃʊəl, -tjʊəl/

adjective

  • 1existing in fact; real: the estimate was much less than the actual cost
  • used to emphasize the important aspect of something: the book could be condensed into half the space, but what of the actual content?
  • 2existing now; current: using actual income to measure expected income

Phrases

in actual fact

used to emphasize a comment that modifies or contradicts a previous statement: people talk as if he was a monster—in actual fact he was a very kind guy

your actual ——

informal the real, genuine, or important thing specified: is this a drop of your actual feminine intuition?

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French actuel 'active, practical', from late Latin actualis, from actus (see act)