fact-check

[ fakt-chek ]

verb (used with object)

1. to confirm the truth of (an assertion made in speech or writing), often as part of the research or editorial process.

noun

1. the action of confirming the truth of an assertion made in speech or writing:

   A fact-check of the senator’s speech revealed several misleading comments about his opponent.

Other Words From

• fact-checker noun
• fact-checking noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fact-check¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

“That was a little bit of sloppy fact-checking on the part of my team on the documentary,” Stewart said.

From Salon

As a result, he dominated news coverage, looking bolder and badder than ever and leaving the Democrats looking like sputtering, defensive, fact-checking, umbrage-filled morality police.

From Salon

He particularly decried the fact-checking that ABC’s moderators performed when he strayed from the truth.

From Los Angeles Times

While news outlets rushed to provide “fact-checking,” which boiled down to “None of this is true,” the country, already exhausted and traumatized by a pandemic, tried to contextualize the enormity of Trump’s actions.

From Los Angeles Times

It also has a feature called Community Notes, which crowdsources fact-checking from users.

From BBC