counterfactual

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Historians sometimes play the counterfactual game of wondering what would have happened if a major event had turned out differently.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026

We can't be certain because the results depend heavily on the method chosen by researchers for measuring the "counterfactual", i.e what would have happened to UK exports had the country stayed in the EU.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2025

A counterfactual flood results here from a shift in the precipitation field by 50 kilometres towards the north-east.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2024

For one thing, his hyperbole was plainly counterfactual.

From Slate • Sep. 14, 2023

For projects claiming to avoid emissions, it's difficult to prove the counterfactual: Would a given forest really have been cut down without the offset project?

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2023