noun

1. a deed; act: now esp. in the sense of “a criminal deed” in the phrases after the fact and before the fact an accessory after the fact
2. a thing that has actually happened or that is really true; thing that has been or is
3. the state of things as they are; reality; actuality; truth fact as distinct from fancy
4. something said to have occurred or supposed to be true to check the accuracy of one's facts
5. Law an actual or alleged incident or condition, as distinguished from its legal consequence

Etymology: L factum, that which is done, deed, fact, neut. pp. of facere, do