史实 (shǐ shí) literally combines 史 (shǐ), meaning 'history' or 'historical record', and 实 (shí), meaning 'fact', 'reality', or 'truth'. Together, they form a formal noun meaning 'historical fact' — an event, person, date, or detail that is verifiably documented and accepted by historians as having actually occurred. Unlike subjective interpretations or legends, 史实 emphasizes objectivity, evidence, and scholarly consensus.

This term is commonly used in academic writing, history textbooks, documentaries, and critical discussions about historical narratives. It often appears in phrases like '尊重史实' (respect historical facts) or '歪曲史实' (distort historical facts). While related to general truth (事实, shìshí), 史实 specifically refers to facts anchored in the past and verified through historical sources such as archives, inscriptions, or credible eyewitness accounts.