facts

fact   (fākt)    n.   Knowledge or information based on real occurrences: an account based on fact; a blur of fact and fancy. Something demonstrated to exist or known to have existed: Genetic engineering is now a fact. That Chaucer was a real person is an undisputed fact. A real occurrence; an event: had to prove the facts of the case. Something believed to be true or real: a document laced with mistaken facts. A thing that has been done, especially a crime: an accessory before the fact. Law The aspect of a case at law comprising events determined by evidence: The jury made a finding of fact. [Latin factum, deed, from neuter past participle of facere, to do; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.] Usage Note: Fact has a long history of usage in the sense "allegation of fact," as in "This tract was distributed to thousands of American teachers, but the facts and the reasoning are wrong" (Albert Shanker). This practice has led to the introduction of the phrases true facts and real facts, as in The true facts of the case may never be known. These usages may occasion qualms among critics who insist that facts can only be true, but the usages are often useful for emphasis.

fact 

Main Entry: fact
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin factum deed, real happening, something done, from neuter of factus, past participle of facere to do, make
1 : something that has actual existence : a matter of objective reality
2 : any of the circumstances of a case that exist or are alleged to exist in reality : a thing whose actual occurrence or existence is to be determined by the evidence presented at trial —see also finding of fact at FINDING, JUDICIAL NOTICE question of fact at QUESTION, TRIER OF FACT —compare LAW, OPINION

---

adjudicative fact
: a fact particularly related to the parties to an esp. administrative proceeding —compare LEGISLATIVE FACT in this entry

---

collateral fact
: a fact that has no direct relation to or immediate bearing on the case or matter in question —compare MATERIAL FACT in this entry

---

constitutional fact
: a fact that relates to the determination of a constitutional issue (as violation of a constitutional right) —used esp. of administrative findings of fact

---

evidentiary fact
: a fact that is part of the situation from which a case arises and that is established by testimony or other evidence called also mediate fact predicate fact —compare ULTIMATE FACT in this entry

---

legislative fact
: a fact of general social, economic, or scientific relevance that does not change from case to case —compare ADJUDICATIVE FACT in this entry

---

material fact
: a fact that affects decision making: as a : a fact upon which the outcome of all or part of a lawsuit depends b : a fact that would influence a reasonable person under the circumstances in making an investment decision (as in purchasing a security or voting for a corporate officer or action)

---

mediate fact
: EVIDENTIARY FACT in this entry

---

predicate fact
: EVIDENTIARY FACT in this entry

---

ul·ti·mate fact
/'&l-ti-m&t-/
: a conclusion of law or esp. mixed fact and law that is necessary to the determination of issues in a case and that is established by evidentiary facts —compare EVIDENTIARY FACT in this entry—in fact : as a factual matter : established by fact rather than as a matter of law