factual

[ fak-choo-uhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to facts; concerning facts:

   factual accuracy.

2. based on or restricted to facts:

   a factual report.

factual

/ ˈfæktʃʊəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by facts
2. of the nature of fact; real; actual

Derived Forms

• ˌfactualˈistic, adjective
• ˈfactualness, noun
• ˈfactualist, noun
• ˈfactualism, noun
• ˈfactually, adverb

Other Words From

• factu·al·ly adverb
• factu·ali·ty factu·al·ness noun
• non·factu·al adjective
• non·factu·al·ly adverb
• un·factu·al adjective
• un·factu·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of factual¹

First recorded in 1825–35; fact + -ual, after actual or effectual

Example Sentences

Its owner, Chelsea Event & Entertainment Ltd, said the police report contained "a vast array of factual inaccuracies" and that it would not comment further until after a licensing meeting set to take place on Monday.

From BBC

“Much like he did in his opening and reply briefs, defendant advances a factual narrative divorced from the trial record,” prosecutors wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

“It was obvious within 2 months of his purchase that the algorithm was already skewing against people who post factual, accurate information on climate,” says Katharine Hayhoe, a climate researcher at Texas Tech University.

From Science Magazine

Largely because right-wing propaganda circulates so freely and is actually good, while factual information is locked behind paywalls.

From Salon

When voters have factual information about the candidates, they prefer Democrats.

From Salon

Related Words

• accurate
• circumstantial
• credible
• descriptive
• legitimate
• literal
• precise
• unbiased
• valid