in point of fact
- idiom
- In point of fact, the highest priority has been attaining diversity.
- In point of fact, he'd never
- In point of fact, most people
She followed me in point of fact when I resigned from that.
- She followed me in point of fact when I resigned from that.
- So he goes on and he says in point of fact, these laws are not the truth of thought.
- The thing is I in point of fact, in this infinite judgment, The thing is superseded.
Examples
-
In point of fact, the opposite is true.
-
In point of fact, I am a field agent, Mr Mason.
-
Regarding the 'surprise' of the election results: in point of fact, there should be no such 'surprise.'
Blog text (21) -
In point of fact, I did have a great time.
-
In point of fact, I came here to look for her.
-
In point of fact, the institutions were part of the problem.
Academic text (1993) -
Norman was nominally in charge of the investigation, although in point of fact the three units covering the cases were acting independently.
Fiction book (1992) -
In point of fact, the reality behind this photograph is completely different from what Torgovnick represents.
Academic text (1995) -
In point of fact, something resembling a moral struggle was going on in Odo's head.
Fiction book (1993) -
In point of fact, there should be no surprise about the election results.
Synonyms
To show that something is really true even if surprising
To emphasize and agree that something is true
Shows that something is true, often when it is different from what was said
To say that something is true, often when it is surprising
Says what is really true to correct a wrong idea
Shows what is true rather than how things appear
Actually, what is said is true even if people think otherwise
Admitting a point that goes against what you said
Antonyms
How Emphatic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning ('actually; in truth') is directly derivable from combining 'in' + 'point' (an item/consideration) + 'of' + 'fact' (truth) — the phrase essentially points to what is true. This is a straightforward prepositional composition with close cross-linguistic parallels, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should be able to infer the meaning despite the expression's somewhat formal register.
Etymology
In point of fact gives the image of someone pointing to the exact point or fact in a discussion. That's why it is used to mean 'actually' or to correct and stress the truth.