de facto

[ dee fak-toh, dey ]

adverb

1. in fact; in reality: They are forbidden from leaving the camp, thereby being de facto in a state of detention.

   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.

2. actually existing, especially when without lawful authority ( de jure ):

   He led efforts to reduce de facto segregation in the city's public schools.

noun

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

de facto

/ deɪ ˈfæktəʊ /

adverb

1. in fact

adjective

1. existing in fact, whether legally recognized or not Compare de jure

   a de facto regime

noun

1. a de facto husband or wife

de facto

1. 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 .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of de facto¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of de facto¹

C17: Latin

Example Sentences

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.

From 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.

From Eater

Without a public, rules-based alternative, eWTP could become the de facto global platform for digital trade, with no democratic mandate or oversight.

From MIT Technology Review

Rothstein sets de jure segregation against de facto segregation, which is the result of private actions and personal choices.

From Freakonomics

“We are already behind the de facto firewall,” said Charles Mok, a lawmaker representing the technology sector, in a tweet.

From Quartz

The central issue is de facto immunity traditionally given to bishops and cardinals.

From The Daily Beast

The language of this bill is a de facto abortion ban for most pregnant federal prisoners.

From The Daily Beast

Any news group that aims for the elusive ideal of objectivity is de facto liberal, in their view.

From The Daily Beast

Use him as the poster child for a nasty, devilish lobbying group being the de facto fourth branch of government.

From The Daily Beast

Politico reported over the weekend that Sharpton is the de facto liaison for the White House regarding the shooting in Ferguson.

From The Daily Beast

They thought of them most in their lay capacity of de facto Government agents all over the Islands.

From Project Gutenberg

We dismiss it without further comment—and with it Colonization in toto—and Mr. Birney de facto.

From Project Gutenberg

We are inclined to turn from them to the intellectual monarchs de facto.

From Project Gutenberg

The emperor de facto might be viewed under two aspects; there was the man, and there was the office.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Morton did not object to a nephew de facto, she only objected to a nephew in forma pauperis.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• existing