counterfactual Definition
relating to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case.
Using counterfactual: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "counterfactual" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In a counterfactual scenario, if I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
Example
The novel explores a counterfactual world where the Nazis won World War II.
Example
Counterfactual thinking can lead to regret and dissatisfaction with the present.
Example
The counterfactual nature of the argument made it difficult to refute.
counterfactual Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for counterfactual
- hypothetical
- imaginary
- unreal
- fictional
- contrary to fact
Phrases with counterfactual
a genre of historiography that examines historical events and possibilities as they might have developed under different circumstances
Example
The book explores counterfactual history, asking what would have happened if key events had gone differently.
the process of reasoning about what might have happened in the past or what might happen in the future under different conditions
Example
Counterfactual reasoning is an important tool in decision-making and problem-solving.
a computational technique used to generate possible outcomes of a system or process under different conditions
Example
Counterfactual simulation can help researchers understand how complex systems might behave under different scenarios.
Summary: counterfactual in Brief
The term 'counterfactual' [ˌkaʊntərˈfæktʃuəl] refers to something that has not happened or is not the case. It is often used in hypothetical scenarios, such as 'if I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.' Counterfactual history and reasoning explore what might have happened under different circumstances, while counterfactual simulation generates possible outcomes of a system or process under different conditions.
