Fact Meaning
/fækt/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounSomething actual as opposed to invented.
nounSomething which is real.
Sentence Examples
You should make sure of the fact without hesitation.
You should emphasize that fact.
The fact that I was a foreigner was a big disadvantage.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The detective knew every ____ about the case except the motive.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is a well-known ____ that the Earth revolves around the Sun every three hundred days.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Mother[…]considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, from which every Kensingtonian held aloof, except on the conventional tip-and-run excursions in pursuit of shopping, tea and theatres."
— 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
"After that Richard, the third of that name, king in fact only, but tyrant both in title and regiment[…]was[…]overthrown and slain at Bosworth Field; there succeeded in the kingdom[…]Henry the Seventh."
— 1622, Francis Bacon, The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh, page 1:
"She was empassiond at that piteous act, / With zelous enuy of Greekes cruell fact, / Against that nation [...]."
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"His friends still wrought Repreeves for him: And indeed his fact till now in the government of Lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtfull proofe."
— c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 76, column 2:
"Gentlemen of the Jury, I think I need say but little on this matter: They all confess the fact of which they stand indicted. Some of them were old offenders, and all of them were proved to be at the taking of capt. Manwareing's sloop, and all took their shares: so that I think the fact is very fully and clearly proved upon them."
— 1819, T. Howell, A Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and Other Crimes and Misdemeanors:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The detective knew every ____ about the case except the motive.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is a well-known ____ that the Earth revolves around the Sun every three hundred days.