Dictionary

semifactual en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃuəl/ (General-American)
• /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃəl/ (General-American)
• /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃwəl/ (General-American)
• /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃʊl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃʊəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From semi- + factual. In the logic sense, introduced by Nelson Goodman.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Only partly factual.
   • Suppose you are given the semifactual assertion, "even if Nora had liked mathematics then she would have became^([sic]) a scientist" and then you find out that Nora did in fact become a scientist. 2007 January 26, Ruth M. J. Byrne, The Rational Imagination: How People Create Alternatives to Reality, MIT Press, →ISBN, page 140:

Deriveds

semifactually

semifactual en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃuəl/ (General-American)
• /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃəl/ (General-American)
• /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃwəl/ (General-American)
• /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃʊl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃʊəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From semi- + factual. In the logic sense, introduced by Nelson Goodman.

Meanings

1. A conditional with a false antecedent and a true consequent.

Forms