factual

The word “factual” means based on facts rather than opinion or invention. In plain terms, true and accurate, or (for TV) about real events rather than fiction.

“Factual” is pronounced FAK-shuhl (/ˈfæk.tʃ(u)əl/ in IPA).

Here is “factual” used in a sentence: “The report gives a factual account of what happened that night.”

Depending on how it is used, “factual” can be an adjective and a noun.

“Factual” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Factual” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: based on facts rather than opinion or invention.

Factual means based on facts rather than opinion or invention, focusing on whether the content is true and verifiable. Objective goes further, implying that a person's judgment or presentation is also free from personal bias, so a report can be factual in its content while still framing those facts in a subjective or one-sided way.

A factual programme is a television or radio programme built around real events, such as a documentary, news report, or nature series, as opposed to fictional drama or entertainment shows. This use of factual as a noun-modifying term is especially common in British broadcasting to describe genres like documentaries and current affairs.

Factual describes content that is grounded in real facts rather than opinion or fiction, while accurate specifically means free from errors or mistakes. A statement can be factual in the sense that it deals with real events, yet still contain inaccurate details, so the two words highlight different qualities of truthfulness.