factual

adjective

fac·​tu·​al ˈfak-chə-wəl How to pronounce factual (audio)
-chəl,
-chü-əl,
ˈfaksh-wəl
1
: of or relating to facts
a factual error
the factual aspects of the case
2
: restricted to or based on fact
a factual statement
She tried to separate what is factual from what is not.
factuality noun
factually
ˈfak-chə-wə-lē How to pronounce factual (audio)
-chə-lē
-chü(-ə)-lē
ˈfaksh-wə-
adverb
factualness noun

Examples of factual in a Sentence

That statement is not factual. a report filled with factual errors the factual aspects of the case
Recent Examples on the Web Serious people should know what an older version of antisemitic denialism was all about: a steady stream of factual nitpicks, logical inversions and rhetorical legerdemain meant to obfuscate and deny the greatest crime in history. Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 In the motion for factual innocence, lawyers said Torres and Villalobos looked very much alike in 2000, which was the reason Villalobos was accused of being at the scene of the killing. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 But many of these chatbots require you to know exactly how to speak to them, are useless for factual information, constantly make up stuff and in many cases aren’t much of an improvement on existing technologies like an app, news articles, Google or Wikipedia. Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 Part of the reason the court struggled with the limits of the law was because the factual record of the cases was not very developed. Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 27 Feb. 2024 And so, along with the legal conclusion comes this flood of characterizations, factual misstatements, pejorative comments about the president that are inconsistent with DOJ policy and norms. Emma Colton, Fox News, 13 Feb. 2024 Such deviation from facts can lead to unique perspectives that a strictly factual and precise system might never generate. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 But the judge also gave credence to a factual basis for a self-defense argument. Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 After receiving the payments from the concert promoter, Morris transferred about $237,000 to Kelly, according to the factual statements filed with their plea deals. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'factual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

fact + -ual (in actual)

First Known Use

circa 1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of factual was circa 1832

Dictionary Entries Near factual

Cite this Entry

“Factual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/factual. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

factual

adjective
fac·​tu·​al ˈfak-chə(-wə)l How to pronounce factual (audio)
ˈfaksh-wəl
1
: of or relating to facts
a factual error
2
: restricted to or based on fact
a factual statement
factuality noun
factually
ˈfak-chə(-wə)-lē How to pronounce factual (audio)
ˈfaksh-wə-lē
adverb
factualness noun

Legal Definition

factual

adjective
fac·​tu·​al ˈfak-chə-wəl How to pronounce factual (audio)
1
: of or relating to facts
factual issues
2
: restricted to or based on fact
factuality noun
factually adverb
factualness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on factual

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