as a matter of fact

[mat-er]

mat·ter

[mat-er]
noun
1.
the substance or substances of which any physical object consists or is composed: the matter of which the earth is made.
2.
physical or corporeal substance in general, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, especially as distinguished from incorporeal substance, as spirit or mind, or from qualities, actions, and the like.
3.
something that occupies space.
4.
a particular kind of substance: coloring matter.
5.
a situation, state, affair, or business: a trivial matter.
EXPAND
6.
an amount or extent reckoned approximately: a matter of 10 miles.
7.
something of consequence: matter for serious thought.
8.
importance or significance: decisions of little matter.
9.
difficulty; trouble (usually preceded by the): There is something the matter.
10.
ground, reason, or cause: a matter for complaint.
11.
the material or substance of a discourse, book, etc., often as distinguished from its form.
12.
things put down in words, especially printed: reading matter.
13.
things sent by mail: postal matter.
14.
a substance discharged by a living body, especially pus.
15.
Philosophy.
a.
that which by integrative organization forms chemical substances and living things.
b.
Aristotelianism. that which relates to form as potentiality does to actuality.
16.
Law. statement or allegation.
17.
Printing.
a.
material for work; copy.
b.
type set up.
18.
Christian Science. the concept of substance shaped by the limitations of the human mind.
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
19.
to be of importance; signify: It matters little.
20.
Pathology. to suppurate.

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As a matter of fact is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
21.
a matter of life and death, something of vital or crucial importance.
22.
as a matter of fact, in reality; actually; in fact: As a matter of fact, there is no substance to that rumor.
23.
for that matter, as far as that is concerned; as for that: For that matter, you are no better qualified to judge than I. Also, for the matter of that.
24.
no matter,
a.
regardless or irrespective of: We'll never finish on time, no matter how hard we work.
b.
it is unimportant; it makes no difference: No matter, this string will do as well as any other.

Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English mater(e), materie < Anglo-French, Old French mat(i)ere, materie < Latin māteria woody part of a tree, material, substance, derivative of māter mother1

mat·ter·ful, adjective
mat·ter·less, adjective
non·mat·ter, noun

madder, matter (see synonym note at the current entry).


1. Matter, material, stuff, substance refer to that of which physical objects are composed (though all these terms are also used abstractly). Matter, as distinct from mind and spirit, is a broad word that applies to anything perceived, or known to be occupying space: solid matter; gaseous matter. Material usually means some definite kind, quality, or quantity of matter, especially as intended for use: woolen material; a house built of good materials. Stuff, a less technical word, with approximately the same meanings as material, is characterized by being on an informal level when it refers to physical objects (Dynamite is queer stuff), and on a literary or poetic one when it is used abstractly (the stuff that dreams are made on). Substance is the matter that composes a thing, thought of in relation to its essential properties: a sticky substance. 5. question. 7. concern. 8. moment. 11. subject, topic. 19. count.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Slang Dictionary

as a matter of fact definition


and AAMOF
  1. phr. & comp. abb.
    actually; in fact. : AAMOF, Bob just came in. , As a matter of fact, he's right here. You want to talk to him?
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

as a matter of fact

see matter of fact.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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