different between factual vs authoritative

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

English

Etymology

From authorit(y) +? -ative.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????????te?t?v/, /???????t?t?v/
• (US) IPA^(key): /???????te?t?v/, /???????te?t?v/, /???????te?t?v/, /???????te?t?v/, /??????t?t?v/, /??????t?t?v/, /??????t?t?v/, /??????t?t?v/

Adjective

authoritative (comparative more authoritative, superlative most authoritative)

1. Arising or originating from a figure of authority

   The authoritative rules in this school come not from the headmaster but from the aged matron.

2. Highly accurate or definitive; treated or worthy of treatment as a scholarly authority

   This book is the world's most authoritative guide to insect breeding habits.

3. Having a commanding style.

   He instructed us in that booming, authoritative voice of his.

Synonyms

• (highly accurate): definitive; precise, proper
• (from a position of authority): of record

Derived terms

• authoritatively
• authoritativeness

Translations