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

Related Words

• existing