fact
fakt
Fact (noun) means something known to be true, based on evidence rather than opinion or invention. Example: “It's a fact that water boils at 100°C at sea level.”
noun
1
Something known to be true, based on evidence rather than opinion or invention.
"It's a fact that water boils at 100°C at sea level."
"The report separates fact from speculation."
"Scientists treat a claim as fact only after repeated testing confirms it."
2
Information about a particular subject or situation.
"Check the facts before you publish the article."
"The guide gave us several interesting facts about the old castle."
"Please send me all the facts you have about the missing parcel."
How to use fact
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that is objectively true and verifiable, as opposed to an opinion or a guess.
Common mistake
A fact can be checked and verified; an opinion is a personal judgement. Don't present opinions as facts.
Common pairings
in fact
the fact remains
fact-check
hard facts
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like fact.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- facts
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It's a _____ that water boils at 100°C at sea level.
Etymology
From Latin factum, "a thing done or made," the past participle of facere, "to do." Doublet of "feat."
Related words
Rhymes for fact
See all rhymes for fact →Frequently asked questions
What does “fact” mean?
The word “fact” means something known to be true, based on evidence rather than opinion or invention. In plain terms, something that is objectively true and verifiable, as opposed to an opinion or a guess.
How do you pronounce “fact”?
“Fact” is pronounced fakt (/fækt/ in IPA).
How do you use “fact” in a sentence?
Here is “fact” used in a sentence: “The report separates fact from speculation.”
What is the opposite of “fact”?
The opposite of “fact” — its antonyms — are antonym(s) of and opinion.
What part of speech is “fact”?
“Fact” is a noun.
Where does the word “fact” come from?
The word “fact” comes from Latin. From Latin factum, "a thing done or made," the past participle of facere, "to do." Doublet of "feat.".
Is “fact” a common word?
“Fact” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “fact” have?
“Fact” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something known to be true, based on evidence rather than opinion or invention.
What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?
A fact is something that can be shown to be true with evidence, like water boiling at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level. An opinion is a personal belief or judgement that cannot be proven, such as saying a film is boring. Facts stay the same for everyone; opinions vary from person to person.
What is the difference between a fact and a theory?
A fact is a single observation known to be true, while a theory is a well-tested explanation that makes sense of many facts. In science, a theory is not a guess but a broad, evidence-backed framework. Facts are the building blocks; a theory is the structure built to explain why they occur.
Can a fact change?
A genuine fact does not change, but what we accept as fact can, when better evidence appears. People once treated the idea that the sun orbits the earth as fact until observation corrected it. So facts themselves are fixed truths; our knowledge of them simply improves as evidence grows.
What is an example of a fact?
'The Earth orbits the Sun' is a fact, because it can be verified through observation and measurement. So is 'Paris is the capital of France.' Each can be checked against evidence and holds true regardless of anyone's feelings about it, which is what separates a fact from a mere claim.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include fact:
