matter-of-fact

adjective

Of, or relating to facts only; literal, realistic.

“The students appreciated the health teacher for her matter-of-fact way of talking about sex.”

Similar
dryprosaicunrhetoricalpragmaticpragmaticalpractical
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Meanings

adjectivematter-of-fact (comparative more matter-of-fact, superlative most matter-of-fact)

comparative more matter-of-fact · superlative most matter-of-fact

  1. Of, or relating to facts only; literal, realistic.
  2. Lacking emotion or color.
  3. Straightforward, blunt, frank; treating the situation as normal; not embarrassed, coy, or dramatic.

    The students appreciated the health teacher for her matter-of-fact way of talking about sex.

    1 more example

    The detective felt his interest quicken but he sounded matter-of-fact as he asked, "What makes you so sure this Harris could be one of the guys in on this hit?"

    1970, Wally Ferris, Across 110th, page 96

    Synonyms: dry

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveStraightforward, blunt, frank; treating the situation as normal; not embarrassed, coy, or dramatic.

Similar
dry

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivenot fanciful or imaginative

Similar
prosaicunrhetorical

adjectiveconcerned with practical matters

Similar
pragmaticpragmaticalpractical
Also see
businesslikepracticalpragmaticpragmaticalprosaicunrhetorical

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From matter of fact.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian фактически, прозаичен
  • фактически (faktičeski)of, or relating to facts only
  • прозаичен (prozaičen)lacking emotion
Finnish asiapohjainen, realistinen
  • asiapohjainenof, or relating to facts only
  • realistinenof, or relating to facts only
  • asiallinenof, or relating to facts only
  • tosiasioihin perustuvaof, or relating to facts only
  • todellisuudentajuinenof, or relating to facts only
  • asiallinenlacking emotion
  • realistinenlacking emotion
  • viileälacking emotion
German nüchtern
  • nüchternlacking emotion
Polish rzeczowy, prozaiczny
  • rzeczowyof, or relating to facts only
  • prozaicznyof, or relating to facts only
  • praktycznyof, or relating to facts only
  • suchylacking emotion
Russian сухо́й, холо́дный
  • сухо́й (suxój)lacking emotion
  • холо́дный (xolódnyj)lacking emotion
  • равноду́шный (ravnodúšnyj)lacking emotion
Spanish fáctico, factual
  • fácticoof, or relating to facts only
  • factualof, or relating to facts only
Cite this entry
APA

matter-of-fact. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matter-of-fact

MLA

“matter-of-fact.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matter-of-fact. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “matter-of-fact,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matter-of-fact.

Source: matter-of-fact on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.