matter of fact

 

noun

  • a fact as distinct from an opinion or conjecture: it’s a matter of fact that they had a relationship
  • Law the part of a judicial inquiry concerned with the truth of alleged facts. Often contrasted with matter of law.

adjective

(matter-of-fact)
  • unemotional and practical: she tried to keep her tone light and matter-of-fact
  • concerned only with factual content rather than style or expression: the text is written in a breezy matter-of-fact manner

Phrases

as a matter of fact

in reality (used especially to correct a falsehood or misunderstanding): as a matter of fact, I was talking to him this afternoon

Derivatives

matter-of-factly

adverb

matter-of-factness

noun