counterfactual

adjective

coun·​ter·​fac·​tu·​al ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈfak-chə-wəl 

-chəl, 

-shwəl, 

-chü-əl

: contrary to fact

counterfactual assumptions

Examples of counterfactual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In my hypothetical example, his 2026 fortune falls from $908 billion reported by Forbes to about $317 billion in my counterfactual 10 percent wealth tax example (again, assuming his wealth over the past 10 years grew smoothly). — Jeff Hoopes, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026

Can explanation, audit and counterfactual analysis happen inside the environment where the raw data are already authorized? — Jeremy Samuelson, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Israeli officials and pro-Israeli think tanks would make the counterfactual argument that Hezbollah’s arsenal, especially of advanced weapons, would have been much larger without Mabam operations. — Amy McAuliffe, The Conversation, 26 June 2026

For years, that counterfactual felt abstract. — John Hope Bryant, Time, 28 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterfactual

• contractual
• artifactual
• factual
• tactual