different between definitive vs factual

English

Etymology

From Middle French définitif.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??f?n.?t.?v/

Adjective

definitive (comparative more definitive, superlative most definitive)

1. explicitly defined
2. conclusive or decisive

3. definite, authoritative and complete
   • 1838, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic

     Some definitive […] scheme of reconciliation.

4. limiting; determining

5. (philately) general, not issued for commemorative purposes
6. (obsolete) Determined; resolved.
   • 1604, William Shakespeare, Measure, for Measure, V. i. 424:

     Never crave him. We are definitive.

Derived terms

• definitively

Translations

Noun

definitive (plural definitives)

1. (grammar) a word, such as a definite article or demonstrative pronoun, that defines or limits something
2. (philately) an ordinary postage stamp that is part of a series of all denominations or is reprinted as needed to meet demand

   Synonym: definitive stamp

Translations

Esperanto

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /defini?tive/
• Rhymes: -ive

Adverb

definitive

1. definitively

German

Adjective

definitive

1. inflection of definitiv:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian

Adjective

definitive

1. feminine plural of definitivo

Anagrams

• definitevi

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /de?.fi?.ni??ti?.u?e/, [d?e?fi?ni??t?i?u??]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /de.fi.ni?ti.ve/, [d??fini?t?i?v?]

Adjective

d?f?n?t?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of d?f?n?t?vus

References

• definitive in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• definitive in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette

English

Etymology

fact +? -al, modified by analogy with actual.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?fæk(t)?u?l/, /?fæk(t)??l/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?fak(t)???l/, /?fak(t)??l/
• (General New Zealand) IPA^(key): /?f?k(t)???l/, /?f?k(t)??l/

Adjective

factual (comparative more factual, superlative most factual)

1. Pertaining to or consisting of objective claims.
   • 2012, D.C. Kline, Dominion and Wealth: A Critical Analysis of Karl Marx’ Theory of Commercial Law, Springer Science & Business Media (?ISBN), page 34:

     If, as Marx claimed, these factual views were held by the ideologists of the nineteenth century and if these factual claims could be proven false, then Marx could claim to have refuted certain tenets of capitalist political philosophy on a purely  […]

   • 2014, Derek Matravers, Fiction and Narrative, OUP Oxford (?ISBN):

     Thus, the approach has more flexibility than Lamarque and Olsen's approach; in particular, it is open to the possibility that false factual claims do affect our understanding of, and our evaluation of, fictional narratives.

2. True, accurate, corresponding to reality.
   • 2007, Robin Parrish, Fearless, Bethany House Pub (?ISBN)

     He knew Guardian's real name. Did he dare play that card? "Yes ma'am, that's factual information. All of it."

Derived terms

Related terms

• fact
• counterfactual
• de facto

Translations

Further reading

• factual in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• factual in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• caul fat

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• fatual

Adjective

factual m or f (plural factuais, comparable)

1. factual (consisting of facts)

Spanish

Adjective

factual (plural factuales)

1. factual

   Synonym: fáctico