counterfactual
adjective
coun·ter·fac·tu·al
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈfak-chə-wəl 
-chəl,
-shwəl,
-chü-əl
: contrary to fact
counterfactual assumptions
Examples of counterfactual in a Sentence
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What-If Tool, counterfactual evaluation for outcome assessment and outcome bias assessment.
—
Trushant Mehta, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
In an era where many of the thought-leaders and decision-makers in our global society refuse to accept the actual facts of reality, and instead argue from a counterfactual position that supports their preferred narrative, this isn’t just a problem for practicing scientists.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 13 Aug. 2025
Ferguson, who has published a collection of counterfactual histories, is an outlier among academics.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Now consider a counterfactual scenario, in which Russia attacked only the Donbas region of Ukraine in 2022.
—Tanisha M. Fazal, Foreign Affairs, 21 Mar. 2025
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Trushant Mehta, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
In an era where many of the thought-leaders and decision-makers in our global society refuse to accept the actual facts of reality, and instead argue from a counterfactual position that supports their preferred narrative, this isn’t just a problem for practicing scientists.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 13 Aug. 2025
Ferguson, who has published a collection of counterfactual histories, is an outlier among academics.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Now consider a counterfactual scenario, in which Russia attacked only the Donbas region of Ukraine in 2022.
—Tanisha M. Fazal, Foreign Affairs, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterfactual
Cite this Entry
“Counterfactual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterfactual. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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