matter-of-fact
adjective
mat·ter-of-fact
ˌma-tər-ə(v)-ˈfakt 
: adhering to the unembellished facts
also
: being plain, straightforward, or unemotional
Synonyms
Examples of matter-of-fact in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The matter-of-fact reports failed to convey the brutality of rape, while the subjective reports were rich with personalized details, elicited from the victims.
—
cleveland, 17 Sep. 2023
The bags’ combination of matter-of-fact tag lines and mundane material poked at the idea of the shopping bag as a status symbol, said Emily Orr, an associate curator at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
—Hilary Reid, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
Lee’s style is plain and matter-of-fact, and the film’s spare and often muted visual language (cinematography is by Pawel Edelman) matches that mood.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Sep. 2023
One thing that struck me, too, is in the documentary, one of the women just made this really matter-of-fact comment.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Sep. 2023
Its matter-of-fact treatment of suicidal thoughts led to a flood of D.M.s from viewers with similar experiences.
—Alex Barasch, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
An unusually matter-of-fact, sober, and dispassionate exploration of the political institutions and arrangements governing the territory once ruled by the British in their Palestine Mandate, this book is a model of scholarly engagement with challenging political issues.
—Lisa Anderson, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023
This matter-of-fact handling of agonizing feelings is kind of Parden’s thing.
—Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023
Mia is so blunt about the subject of her parents’ relationship—so matter-of-fact, and so devoid of rancor—as to suggest that the Prevezer curse has been decisively routed.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
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cleveland, 17 Sep. 2023
The bags’ combination of matter-of-fact tag lines and mundane material poked at the idea of the shopping bag as a status symbol, said Emily Orr, an associate curator at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
—Hilary Reid, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
Lee’s style is plain and matter-of-fact, and the film’s spare and often muted visual language (cinematography is by Pawel Edelman) matches that mood.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Sep. 2023
One thing that struck me, too, is in the documentary, one of the women just made this really matter-of-fact comment.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Sep. 2023
Its matter-of-fact treatment of suicidal thoughts led to a flood of D.M.s from viewers with similar experiences.
—Alex Barasch, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023
An unusually matter-of-fact, sober, and dispassionate exploration of the political institutions and arrangements governing the territory once ruled by the British in their Palestine Mandate, this book is a model of scholarly engagement with challenging political issues.
—Lisa Anderson, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023
This matter-of-fact handling of agonizing feelings is kind of Parden’s thing.
—Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023
Mia is so blunt about the subject of her parents’ relationship—so matter-of-fact, and so devoid of rancor—as to suggest that the Prevezer curse has been decisively routed.
—Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'matter-of-fact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1712, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near matter-of-fact
Cite this Entry
“Matter-of-fact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/matter-of-fact. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
matter-of-fact
adjective
mat·ter-of-fact
ˌmat-ə-rə(v)-ˈfakt
: sticking to fact
a matter-of-fact account
also
: being plain, straightforward, or unemotional
described the accident in a matter-of-fact way
matter-of-factly
adverb
-ˈfak-(t)lē
Legal Definition
matter of fact
see matter
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