nonfactual
Lacking in truth
Nonfactual describes something not based on or consisting of facts.
A nonfactual claim lacks evidence or verification: The article was criticized for its nonfactual assertions.
The term is neutral—it can describe fiction, speculation, or simply unverified information, without necessarily implying deliberate falsehood.
New and unusual
- storyAccount of events
- narrativeAccount of events
- imaginaryExisting only in thought
- inventedCreated something new
made-up · fantastical · fictional · storytelling · tale · fable · fantasy · creativity
Not matching reality
- incorrectNot accurate or true
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- erroneousContaining factual mistakes
- deceptiveCreating false impressions
unfounded · inaccurate · fabricated · bogus · spurious · fallacious · distorted · untruthful
Testable proposed explanation
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- theorizingForming unproven explanations
- suppositionBelief without proof
inference · postulation · extrapolation · presumption · assumption · surmise · unverified · unproven
novel
New and unusual
invented · made-up · fantastical · fictional · storytelling · tale · fable · fantasy · creativity · imagination
false
Not matching reality
- incorrectNot accurate or true
- misleadingCausing false beliefs
- erroneousContaining factual mistakes
deceptive · unfounded · inaccurate · fabricated · bogus · spurious · fallacious · distorted · untruthful · misrepresented
hypothesis
Testable proposed explanation
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- theorizingForming unproven explanations
supposition · inference · postulation · extrapolation · presumption · assumption · surmise · unverified · unproven · speculative