matter of record: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

No, while it is most precise and common in legal contexts, it is also correctly used in journalism, academia, history, and formal business to refer to any fact that has been officially documented or widely published and can be verified.

'Common knowledge' is something widely believed or known, but not necessarily documented. 'Matter of record' specifically requires an official, verifiable source (a document, transcript, archive). A matter of record is provable in a way common knowledge might not be.

Typically no. The standard phrase is 'a matter of record' or 'a matter of public record'. Adding 'the' ('matter of the record') is non-standard and sounds awkward, unless referring to a specific, previously mentioned record (e.g., 'the record of the meeting').

It implies the fact is documented as true in an official source. The phrase itself asserts that the existence of the record is the key point, which carries a strong presumption of truth, though the underlying fact could theoretically be an error that was officially recorded.

A fact or event that is established by being officially documented or recorded, and can therefore be verified as true.

Matter of record is usually formal / legal / official in register.

Matter of record: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmætər əv ˈrekɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmæɾər əv ˈrekərd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.