fact

 
Pronunciation: /fakt/

noun

  • a thing that is known or proved to be true: the most commonly known fact about hedgehogs is that they have fleas [mass noun]: a body of fact
  • (facts) information used as evidence or as part of a report or news article: even the most inventive journalism peters out without facts, and in this case there were no facts
  • (the fact that) used to refer to a particular situation under discussion: despite the fact that I’m so tired, sleep is elusive
  • [mass noun] chiefly Law the truth about events as opposed to interpretation: there was a question of fact as to whether they had received the letter

Phrases

before (or after) the fact

before (or after) the committing of a crime: an accessory before the fact

facts and figures

precise details: he presents the facts and figures of his case openly and honestly

a fact of life

something that must be accepted and cannot be changed, however unpalatable: baldness is a fact of life for a lot of men

the facts of life

information about sexual functions and practices, especially as given to children.

the fact of the matter

the truth: the fact of the matter is that few such cases reach the magistrates' courts

in (point of) fact

used to emphasize the truth of an assertion, especially one opposite to what might be expected or what has been asserted: the brook trout is in fact a char

Origin:

late 15th century: from Latin factum, neuter past participle of facere 'do'. The original sense was 'an act', later 'a crime', surviving in the phrase before (or after) the fact. The earliest of the current senses ( 'truth, reality') dates from the late 16th century