alternative fact
nounEtymology This term gained prominence after it was used by Kellyanne Conway in January 2017 and widely repeated in the US media.
1
Government, Media, Politics Something presented as a fact for reasons of political expediency; a fiction, a falsehood, a lie.
- They are creating their own facts, but one need not be in Government to create alternative facts.2017 February 25, R. E. Guyson Mayers, “A GUY"S VIEW: Season of discontent”, in Barbados Advocate:
- According to Donald Trump we live in an era of "fake news" where his "alternative facts" should be swallowed whole, and without scrutiny.2017 March 3, “Private Sydney: Celebrities quick to present their own 'alternative facts'”, in The Sydney Morning Herald:
4 more examples
- Prime ministers have not been immune to spreading alternative facts.2017 March 3, Chantal Hébert, “It's not just Donald Trump who shifts the truth, Canada's politicians have been using alternative facts for years”, in Toronto Star:
- ― Secretary: Now, I did not mislead you. That was merely an alternative fact.2017 May 30, Moe! Ninja Girls, Japan: NTT Solmare, iOS, Android, scene: Season 6, Chapter 6:
- Association of Herpes Viral Infections, Antiherpetic Therapy, and Dementia: Real or Alternative Fact?2018 March 26, “Association of Herpes Viral Infections, Antiherpetic Therapy, and Dementia: Real or Alternative Fact?”, in Neurotherapeutics, volume 15, →DOI, pages 415–416:
- And when presidential counsellor Kellyanne Conway coined the phrase “alternative facts” a few days after Trump’s inauguration in early 2017, the mendacity of the incoming administration appeared to be all but official.2025 October 2, William Davies, “A critique of pure stupidity: understanding Trump 2.0”, in The Guardian:
2
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see alternative, fact.
- That Newton was an empirical scientist is a fact. An alternative fact is that he was an alchemist.
- Related terms
- post-truth