FACT


Meaning of FACT in English

/ fækt; NAmE / noun

1.

[ sing. ] fact (that ... ) used to refer to a particular situation that exists :

I could no longer ignore the fact that he was deeply unhappy.

Despite the fact that she was wearing a seat belt, she was thrown sharply forward.

Due to the fact that they did not read English, the prisoners were unaware of what they were signing.

She was happy apart from the fact that she could not return home.

Voluntary work was particularly important in view of the fact that women were often forced to give up paid work on marriage.

How do you account for the fact that unemployment is still rising?

The fact remains that we are still two teachers short.

The mere fact of being poor makes such children criminals in the eyes of the police.

2.

[ C ] a thing that is known to be true, especially when it can be proved :

Isn't it a fact that the firm is losing money?

( informal )

I haven't spoken to anyone in English for days and that's a fact .

I know for a fact (= I am certain) that she's involved in something illegal.

The judge instructed both lawyers to stick to the facts of the case.

First, some basic facts about healthy eating!

The report is based on hard facts (= information that can be proved to be true) .

If you're going to make accusations, you'd better get your facts right (= make sure your information is correct) .

It's about time you learnt to face (the) facts (= accepted the truth about the situation) .

3.

[ U ] things that are true rather than things that have been invented :

The story is based on fact.

It's important to distinguish fact from fiction.

IDIOMS

- after the fact

- the fact (of the matter) is (that) ...

- a fact of life

- facts and figures

- the facts of life

- the facts speak for themselves

- in (actual) fact

- Is that a fact?

—more at matter noun , point noun

••

WORD ORIGIN

late 15th cent.: from Latin factum , neuter past participle of facere do. The original sense was an act , later a crime , surviving in the phrase before (or after) the fact . The earliest of the current senses ( truth, reality ) dates from the late 16th cent.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.