fact Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
    • first you must collect all the facts of the case
  2. noun a statement or assertion of verified information about something that is the case or has happened
    • he supported his argument with an impressive array of facts
  3. noun an event known to have happened or something known to have existed
    • your fears have no basis in fact
    • how much of the story is fact and how much fiction is hard to tell
  4. noun a concept whose truth can be proved
    • scientific hypotheses are not facts

WordNet

Fact noun
Etymology
L. factum, fr. facere to make or do. Cf. Feat, Affair, Benefit, Defect, Fashion, and -fy.
Definitions
  1. A doing, making, or preparing. Obs.
    A project for the fact and vending Of a new kind of fucus, paint for ladies. B. Jonson.
  2. An effect produced or achieved; anything done or that comes to pass; an act; an event; a circumstance.
    What might instigate him to this devilish fact, I am not able to conjecture. Evelyn.
    He who most excels in fact of arms. Milton.
  3. Reality; actuality; truth; as, he, in fact, excelled all the rest; the fact is, he was beaten.
  4. The assertion or statement of a thing done or existing; sometimes, even when false, improperly put, by a transfer of meaning, for the thing done, or supposed to be done; a thing supposed or asserted to be done; as, history abounds with false facts.
    I do not grant the fact. De Foe.
    This reasoning is founded upon a fact which is not true. Roger Long.
    ✍ TheTerm fact has in jurisprudence peculiar uses in contrast with low; as, attorney at low, and attorney in fact; issue in low, and issue in fact. There is also a grand distinction between low and fact with reference to the province of the judge and that of the jury, the latter generally determining the fact, the former the low. Burrill Bouvier. Syn. -- Act; deed; performance; event; incident; occurrence; circumstance.

Webster 1913