fact

== English == === Etymology === From Old French fact, from Latin factum (“an act, deed, feat, etc.”); also Medieval Latin for “state, condition, circumstance”; neuter of factus (“done or made”), perfect passive participle of faciō (“do, make”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- (“to put, place, set”). Old/Middle French later evolved it into faict and fait. Doublet of feat. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /fækt/ Rhymes: -ækt === Noun === fact (countable and uncountable, plural facts) Something actual as opposed to invented. Something which is real. Something concrete used as a basis for further interpretation. An objective consensus on a fundamental reality that has been agreed upon by a substantial number of experts. Information about a particular subject, especially actual conditions and/or circumstances. (databases) An individual value or measurement at the lowest level of granularity in a data warehouse. (archaic) Action; the realm of action. (law, obsolete except in set phrases) A wrongful or criminal deed. (obsolete) A feat or meritorious deed. ==== Usage notes ==== The collocation true fact is a famous example of a pleonasm that irritates some readers or listeners: All facts are true, and anything not true is not a fact. The collocation often arises innocently enough as a speaker or writer reaches for emphasis; but, in careful (deliberative) writing, the writer's own interests (e.g., credibility, persuasion) are best served by deleting the adjective. Ironic usage may bend this rule for humorous effect (e.g., trufax). ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “Something actual”): fiction (antonym(s) of “Something objective”): opinion ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== value belief ==== References ==== “fact”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. “fact”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “fact”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. "Conway: 'Alternative Facts'" Merriam-Webster's Trend Watch Merriam-Webster. 2017. === Interjection === fact Used before making a statement to introduce it as a trustworthy one. === Anagrams === acft