contrafactive (adj./n.)

A term used in the classification of VERB-COMPLEMENT constructions, in which the PROPOSITION expressed in the complement CLAUSE is PRESUPPOSED to be false, e.g. I wish John would go, where it is presupposed that John has not gone. Contrafactive verbs (or ‘contrafactives’) are usually distinguished from FACTIVE and ‘non-factive’ verbs.