historical fact
Refers to a fact or event that actually happened in history, as opposed to fiction or legend. Often used in academic or journalistic contexts.
This novel is based on historical facts.
I read old documents to investigate the historical facts.
This novel is written based on historical fact.
Much of the movie's content differs from historical fact.
This is praised as a depiction faithful to historical fact.
The report was criticized for distorting historical fact.
実話 is a true story or real-life account often used for anecdotes or media, while 史実 specifically denotes a verified fact from recorded history.
Compound of 史 (history) and 実 (truth, reality). The reading is on'yomi for both characters.