Fact

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Table of contents

1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Related terms 1.2.2 Translations

English

Etymology

From Latin perfect passive participle factus, "something made" (cf. manufacture), from verb facere, make or do

Noun

fact, plural facts

1. Something actual as opposed to invented.

   In this story, the Gettysburg Address is a fact, but the rest is fiction.

2. Something which has become real

   The promise of television became a fact in the 1920s.

3. Something concrete used as a basis for further interpretation.

   Let's look at the facts of the case before deciding.

4. An objective consensus on a fundamental truth that has been agreed upon by a substantial number of people.

   There is no doubting the fact that the earth orbits the sun.

5. Information about a particular subject. The facts about space travel.

Related terms

• factual
• fiction
• fact or fiction
• fact of life
• in fact

Translations

• Chinese: 事实/事實 (shìshí), 实情/實情 (shiqing), 真相 (zhenxiang), 实际/實際 (shiji)
• Danish: virkelighed (2); kendsgerning (1), (3) & (4)
• Dutch: feit
• French: fait m, vérité f
• Indonesian: kenyataan, fakta
• Italian: fatto f
• Japanese: 事実 (じじつ), 現実 (げんじつ), 実際 (じっさい)
• Portuguese: fato m (Brazil), facto (Portugal)