What is "counterfactual"

counterfactual \counterfactual\ adj. contrary to fact; -- of assertions, ideas, assumptions.

1946, from counter- + factual.

a. contrary to the facts; untrue. n. 1 A claim, hypothesis, or other belief that is contrary to the facts. 2 (context philosophy English) A conditional statement in which the conditional clause is false, as "If I had arrived on time . . ."."" in ''A Dictionary of Philosophical Terms and Names'' (Garth Kemerling, 1997-2002)''Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary'' (1987-1996)

adj. going counter to the facts (usually as a hypothesis) [syn: contrary to fact]

Counterfactual may refer to:

• Counterfactual conditional, a grammatical form (which also relates to philosophy and logic)
• Counterfactual subjunctive, grammatical forms which in English are known as the past and pluperfect forms of the subjunctive mood
• Counterfactual thinking
• Counterfactual history
• Alternate history, a literary genre
• Counterfactual definiteness in quantum theory
• Counterfactual measurements in quantum theory