fact
8 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
facts
plural
facts
Britannica Dictionary definition of FACT
1
[count]
:
something that truly exists or happens
:
something that has actual existence
— often used in the phrase the fact that
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Rapid electronic communication is now a fact.
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It's hard to accept the fact that she's gone. [=it's hard to accept that she's gone]
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What they're proposing is impractical, apart from the fact that it's also illegal.
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In spite of the fact that he was sick [=although he was sick], I went to visit him.
2
:
a true piece of information
[count]
-
The book is filled with interesting facts and figures.
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Those are the (cold) hard facts of the case.
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I know for a fact that he did it. [=I am sure that he did it]
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He did it, and that's a fact.
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There's no doubt that he did it. The facts speak for themselves. [=the facts make it clear that he did it]
[noncount]
-
It can sometimes be hard to separate fact from fiction. [=to know what is true and what is false]
after the fact
1
law
:
after a crime has been committed
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She was charged with being an accessory after the fact. [=she was charged with helping someone who had committed a crime after the crime was committed]
2
:
after something has happened
:
afterward
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They informed me of their decision only after the fact. [=after they had already made their decision]
as a matter of fact
— used to stress the truth of a statement
-
“Do you know her personally?” “As a matter of fact, I do.”
bend (the) facts
in fact
1
:
in truth
— used to stress that a statement is true although it may be surprising or unlikely
-
painters who are in fact anything but unsophisticated
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He looks younger, but he is in (actual) fact almost 60 years old.
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They know each other; in fact, they're close friends. = They know each other; they're close friends, in fact.
2
also
in point of fact
— used to introduce a true statement which shows that another statement is not true or accurate
-
He claims that he supported the bill, but in fact he voted against it. [=the truth is that he voted against it]
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She says that she doesn't know him, but in point of fact they have been seen together many times.
is that a fact?
— used to respond to a statement that is thought to be surprising or unlikely
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“He looks much younger, but he's actually almost 60 years old.” “Is that a fact?” [=I am surprised he is 60 years old]
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“A lot of people agree with me.” “Is that a fact?” [=I doubt that a lot of people agree with you]
the fact is/remains
— used to stress that a statement is true and that its truth is not affected or changed by a previous statement
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He may not have meant it, but the fact remains that he committed a crime.
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The company has struggled recently, but the fact is that they are still making a profit.
