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something that actually exists; reality; truth:
Your fears have no basis in fact.
something known to exist or to have happened:
Space travel is now a fact.
a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true:
Scientists gather facts about plant growth.
something said to be true or supposed to have happened:
The facts given by the witness are highly questionable.
Law.. Often, facts. an actual or alleged event or circumstance, as distinguished from its legal effect or consequence.
Compare question of fact, question of law.
after the fact, Law. after the commission of a crime:
an accessory after the fact.
before the fact, Law. prior to the commission of a crime:
an accessory before the fact.
in fact, actually; really; indeed:
In fact, it was a wonder that anyone survived.
Contemporary Examples

In fact, Yemeni Jews had already begun immigration to mandate Palestine in the early 1900s.
The Mizrahi Jewish “Refugee” Problem Zachary Smith January 9, 2013

In fact, he did sniff out the killer in Dexter… and he liked it.
Dexter’s Killer Season Claire Zulkey September 12, 2009

In fact, beginning in 2003 Utah government agencies have worked closely with polygamist and nonprofit groups.
Sister Wives Season 2: Polygamy’s Strange Charm Joyce C. Tang March 9, 2011

In fact, from the delighted expression on his face, it seemed to set off an interior monologue that you can just about hear.
Tactical Humorist: Obama’s Jab at Romney Is the First Marvelous Joke of Campaign 2012 Mark Katz April 5, 2012

This is, as others pointed out during the welfare kerfuffle, the great problem with fact checkers.
Facts, Damned “Facts”, and Fact Checkers Megan McArdle October 4, 2012

Historical Examples

It seemed that Mary believed her confidence his due, for she told him the fact.
Within the Law Marvin Dana

As a matter of fact, “civilization” never remains long in the same spot.
Ancient Man Hendrik Willem van Loon

“By George, I forgot the fact that the card had an address on it,” Baker exclaimed.
The Film of Fear Arnold Fredericks

In fact, a large portion of the whole book was built on that anecdote.
The Armourer’s Prentices Charlotte M. Yonge

In fact, contributions to the “new navy” from all corners of the earth.
Submarine Warfare of To-day Charles W. Domville-Fife

noun
an event or thing known to have happened or existed
a truth verifiable from experience or observation
a piece of information: get me all the facts of this case
(law) (often pl) an actual event, happening, etc, as distinguished from its legal consequences. Questions of fact are decided by the jury, questions of law by the court or judge
(philosophy) a proposition that may be either true or false, as contrasted with an evaluative statement
(criminal law) after the fact, after the commission of the offence: an accessory after the fact
(criminal law) before the fact, before the commission of the offence
as a matter of fact, in fact, in point of fact, in reality or actuality
fact of life, an inescapable truth, esp an unpleasant one
the fact of the matter, the truth
n.

1530s, “action,” especially “evil deed,” from Latin factum “event, occurrence,” literally “thing done,” neuter past participle of facere “to do” (see factitious). Usual modern sense of “thing known to be true” appeared 1630s, from notion of “something that has actually occurred.” Facts of life “harsh realities” is from 1854; specific sense of “human sexual functions” first recorded 1913.

Fully Automated Compiling Technique
artificial intelligence, programming
The kind of clause used in logic programming which has no subgoals and so is always true (always succeeds). E.g.
wet(water). male(denis).
This is in contrast to a rule which only succeeds if all its subgoals do. Rules usually contain logic variables, facts rarely do, except for oddities like “equal(X,X).”.
(1996-10-20)
In addition to the idiom beginning with
fact