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matter of fact. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
matter of fact, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
matter of fact in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
See matter, fact. First attested in the 16th century.
Pronunciation
Noun
matter of fact (plural matters of fact)
- (law) An issue concerning the factual circumstances of a cause of action that is to be tried or proved; an allegation forming the basis of a claim or defense, as opposed to a matter of law.
Whether he left his house on the night of the murder is a matter of fact.
- (by extension) A point of fact; a claim or statement about (empirical) facts, as opposed to conjecture or opinion.
It’s a matter of fact that I came into work yesterday.
1690, John Butler, Bellua Marina: or the Monstrous Beast Which Arose out of the Sea , page 3:And all that I pretend to in this ensueing Treatise, is only to poynt with the finger from the Text unto the mater of fact, shewing how here & there, these & those words of the Text were fulfilled.
Derived terms
Phrase
matter of fact
- (colloquial, adverbial) Ellipsis of as a matter of fact.
1970, James Kirkwood, American Grotesque: An Account of the Clay Shaw–Jim Garrison Affair in the City of New Orleans, page 570:“Are you familiar with the Trade Mart building?” ¶ “Yes,” I replied. “Matter of fact, I had drinks up at the top of the Mart only a few nights ago.”
2009 November 14, George Vecsey, “In Assessing Agassi, the Title Tells It All”, in The New York Times:Matter of fact, I vaguely recall interviewing him at a public appearance at The New York Times Building on Wednesday evening.
Further reading