semifactual

English

Etymology

From semi- +‎ factual. In the logic sense, introduced by Nelson Goodman.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃʊəl/, /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃʊl/, /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃəl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃuəl/, /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃwəl/, /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃəl/

Adjective

semifactual (not comparable)

1. Only partly factual.
   • 2007 January 26, Ruth M. J. Byrne, The Rational Imagination: How People Create Alternatives to Reality‎^[1], MIT Press, →ISBN, page 140:

     Suppose you are given the semifactual assertion, "even if Nora had liked mathematics then she would have became^[sic] a scientist" and then you find out that Nora did in fact become a scientist.

Noun

semifactual (plural semifactuals)

1. (logic) A conditional with a false antecedent and a true consequent.