de facto

[ dee fak-toh, dey ]

/ di ˈfæk toʊ, deɪ /

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adverb, adjective

in fact; in reality: Although his title was prime minister, he was de facto president of the country.They are forbidden from leaving the camp, thereby being de facto in a state of detention.

actually existing, especially when without lawful authority (distinguished from de jure): He led efforts to reduce de facto segregation in the city's public schools.

noun

Australia. a person who lives with someone in an intimate romantic relationship but is not married to that person.

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Origin of de facto

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin dē factō literally, “from the fact”

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH de facto

de facto , de jure

Words nearby de facto

Deet, deets, de-excite, def, deface, de facto, de facto segregation, defaecate, defalcate, defalcation, defamation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use de facto in a sentence

The urgent need for economic relief to keep small—and not-so-small—businesses afloat has turned restaurateurs, chefs, and servers into de facto activists for their own livelihoods.
What restaurants need from the 2020 election|ehinchliffe|September 30, 2020|Fortune
Race and ethnicity are major de facto components of gentrification, as the communities that tend to get displaced are disproportionately communities of color, but the issue can extend beyond racial inequality.
The Stages of Gentrification, as Told by Restaurant Openings|Vince Dixon|September 30, 2020|Eater
Without a public, rules-based alternative, eWTP could become the de facto global platform for digital trade, with no democratic mandate or oversight.
How democracies can claim back power in the digital world|Amy Nordrum|September 29, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Rothstein sets de jure segregation against de facto segregation, which is the result of private actions and personal choices.
Should America (and FIFA) Pay Reparations? (Ep. 426)|Stephen J. Dubner|July 16, 2020|Freakonomics

“We are already behind the de facto firewall,” said Charles Mok, a lawmaker representing the technology sector, in a tweet.
China’s Great Firewall has finally come to Hong Kong’s internet|Mary Hui|July 7, 2020|Quartz
In the last year, her fusion exercise class has attracted a cult following and become de rigueur among the celebrity set.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They tried to continue their getaway but had to quickly abandon their vehicle on the Rue de Meaux in the 19th.
Police Hunt for Paris Massacre Suspects|Tracy McNicoll, Christopher Dickey|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Humans spent a long time domesticating cattle, and what they were trying to do, in essence, was de-domesticate them.
‘Nazi Cows’ Tried to Kill British Farmer|Tom Sykes|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The band was still on its way back as De Blasio and his wife departed.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yet even after the funeral protest, de Blasio was booed and heckled while addressing a new class of recruits as well.
We Need Our Police to Be Better Than This|Nick Gillespie|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Madame de Condillac stood watching him, her face composed, her glance cold.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Then the door opened, the portiere was swept aside, and Anselme announced "Monsieur de Garnache."
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
San Antonio de Bexar lies in a fertile and well-irrigated valley, stretching westward from the river Salado.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
One evening, while he was thus engaged, he observed de Patinos and Duke Wharton enter together.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Without any known cause of offence, a tacit acknowledgement of mutual dislike was shewn by Louis and de Patinos.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter

British Dictionary definitions for de facto

de facto

/ (deɪ ˈfæktəʊ) /

adverb

in fact

adjective

existing in fact, whether legally recognized or nota de facto regime Compare de jure

noun plural -tos

Australian and NZ a de facto husband or wife

Word Origin for de facto

C17: Latin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for de facto

de facto

[ (di fak-toh, day fak-toh) ]

Something generally accepted or agreed to without any formal decision in its favor: “They never elected him; he became their leader de facto.” From Latin, meaning “in fact.” (Compare de jure.)

de facto

Origin of de facto

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH de facto

Words nearby de facto

Words related to de facto

How to use de facto in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for de facto

Word Origin for de facto

Cultural definitions for de facto