fact-checked
/fækt tʃɛkt/
Very CommonWhen a claim is verified or debunked, either by a platform, publication, or other users.
Can be used neutrally, approvingly, or sarcastically. 'Getting fact-checked' is rarely a compliment.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | he just got fact-checked in real time by his own source | The reference he cited contradicted his own point. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | this has been fact-checked. it's false. | The claim has been verified and found to be wrong. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | fact-check: the sky is blue. verdict: true | A sarcastic format mocking overly obvious or performative fact-checking. | reddit, 2022 |
| 04 | sharing this without reading because if it gets fact-checked i don't want to know | Acknowledging willful ignorance before spreading something that might be wrong. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- A claim online has been publicly verified or debunked.
- Someone corrects misinformation in the replies.
- A platform labels a post as misleading.
- Used sarcastically when someone states an obvious fact.
Do not use it when
- You specifically mean X/Twitter's built-in correction system.Use “community note” instead.
- You mean someone changed their mind without evidence.
Fact-checked vs community note
fact-checked
Fact-checked is a general term applicable to any platform or verification process.
VS
community-note
Community note is the specific X/Twitter crowdsourced correction mechanism.
Origin and context
Fact-checking as a journalistic practice predates the internet. As a casual online verb, 'fact-checked' spread through social media culture in the 2010s and accelerated during the 2016-2020 period of heightened misinformation awareness.
- First seen
- 2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/fact-checkedUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0