post factum

See also: postfactum

English

Etymology

From Latin: "after the fact".

Adverb

post factum (not comparable)

1. After the fact; after the focus of an activity has already occurred.
   • 2008, Adam Winn, The Purpose of Mark's Gospel, →ISBN, page 67:

     But if Mark recorded this prophecy post factum, he risked nothing and, as we have demonstrated above, he gained a great deal (Jesus is confirmed as a great prophet, God is understood as in control in the midst of crisis, encouragement is given to confused and frightened disciples, and the power of Rome is disarmed).

   • 2012, Anne E. Mills, The Acquisition of Gender: A Study of English and German, →ISBN, page 143:

     It was not found necessary either in the formulation of the hypotheses or in the explanations offered post factum to appeal to any innate language-specific capacity.

Adjective

post factum (not comparable)

1. After the fact; occurring after the focus of an activity has already occurred.
   • 2010, John K. Rhoads, Critical Issues in Social Theory, →ISBN, page 34:

     Merton cautioned against confusing post factum sociological interpretations with social theory.

   • 2014, Paul Rodgers, Joyce Yee, The Routledge Companion to Design Research, →ISBN, page 365:

     Parallel to this is an interest in the notion of post factum documentation, that is, when the 'designerly' drawings have supposedly stopped.

Polish

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin post factum.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɔst ˈfak.tum/
• Rhymes: -aktum

Adverb

post factum (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic, literary) after the fact, post factum

   Synonyms: ex post, po fakcie

   Antonym: ex ante

Further reading

• post factum in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• post factum in Polish dictionaries at PWN