Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: actuel, from Late Latin actualis, from Latin actus; ACT1

actual

 adjective
     
ac‧tu‧al S1 W2 [only before noun]
1 used to emphasize that something is real or exact:
I'm not joking. Those were his actual words.
I know Germany won, but I can't tell you the actual score.
Interest is only charged on the actual amount borrowed.
In actual fact (=really), there is little evidence to support the allegations.
! Do not use actual to mean 'at the present time'. Use current or present the current (NOT actual) economic policy.
2

the actual something

used to introduce the most important part of an event or activity:
The programme starts at 8.00 but the actual film doesn't start until 8.30.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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