A fact is an item of knowledge or information that is true.
Be Careful!
Don't talk about 'true facts' or say, for example, 'These facts are true'.
You can refer to a whole situation by using a clause beginning with the fact that.
Be Careful!
You must use that in clauses like these. Don't say, for example, 'He tried to hide the fact he was disappointed'.
You use in fact to show that you are giving more detailed information about what you have just said.
Noun | 1. | fact - a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred; "first you must collect all the facts of the case" information - knowledge acquired through study or experience or instruction case - the actual state of things; "that was not the case" detail, item, point - an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole; "several of the details are similar"; "a point of information" particular, specific - a fact about some part (as opposed to general); "he always reasons from the particular to the general" general - a fact about the whole (as opposed to particular); "he discussed the general but neglected the particular" matter of fact - a matter that is an actual fact or is demonstrable as a fact observation - facts learned by observing; "he reported his observations to the mayor" reason - a fact that logically justifies some premise or conclusion; "there is reason to believe he is lying" score - the facts about an actual situation; "he didn't know the score" truth - a fact that has been verified; "at last he knew the truth"; "the truth is that he didn't want to do it" |
2. | fact - 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" info, information - a message received and understood record book, book, record - a compilation of the known facts regarding something or someone; "Al Smith used to say, `Let's look at the record'"; "his name is in all the record books" index number, indicator, index, indicant - a number or ratio (a value on a scale of measurement) derived from a series of observed facts; can reveal relative changes as a function of time | |
3. | fact - 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. | ![]() concept, conception, construct - an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances |