fact-check
/fækt tʃɛk/
Very CommonTo verify whether a specific claim is true by checking it against reliable sources.
Used both neutrally (I fact-checked this article) and as a social move (let me fact-check you real quick), which can be aggressive or playful depending on tone.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | let me fact-check this real quick... yep, completely false | The person verified the claim and found it was wrong. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | fact-check: no, that video is from 2019, not today | A specific factual error in a viral post is being corrected with the real information. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | nobody fact-checks anything before sharing. that's the whole problem | People share content without verifying it, which spreads misinformation. | reddit, 2024 |
| 04 | i actually fact-checked his speech and like 4 things were just wrong | After checking a politician's statements against evidence, multiple claims were found false. | tiktok, 2024 |
Use it when
- Verifying a claim before sharing it.
- Correcting someone who posted something false.
- Investigating a viral claim or viral statistic.
- Referring to formal fact-checking journalism or organizations.
Do not use it when
- Dismissing an opinion you disagree with as factually wrong.
- Claiming you fact-checked something when you only searched Twitter.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
From journalism, where fact-checking has been a professional practice since the 20th century. Entered everyday online vocabulary as social media made everyone a potential publisher and checker of information.
- First seen
- 20th century
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/fact-checkUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0