fait accompli

[ fe ta-kawn-plee ]

noun

, French.

, plural faits ac·com·plis [fe z, a, -kaw, n, -, plee].

1. an accomplished fact; a thing already done:

   The enemy's defeat was a fait accompli long before the formal surrender.

fait accompli

/ fɛt akɔ̃pli /

noun

1. something already done and beyond alteration

fait accompli

1. Something that has already been done: “The company president did not discuss the new hiring policy with her board of directors; instead she put it into effect and presented the board with a fait accompli.” From French, meaning “an accomplished fact.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fait accompli¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Word History and Origins

Origin of fait accompli¹

literally: accomplished fact

Example Sentences

“Paving the road puts pressure on negotiators and mediators. The Israelis are trying to create a fait accompli,” says Dr Krieg.

From BBC

Defeat in the 2024 election and the end of America’s multiracial pluralistic democracy with Trump’s victory seemed a fait accompli.

From Salon

“We did what was needed in the past in the face of a fait accompli. We will not hesitate to act again if we encounter the same situation,” Erdogan said.

From Seattle Times

However, he said a cut at the next meeting in June has “not been ruled out” but insisted that it was “not a fait accompli.”

From Seattle Times

Following the sentencing, Mr Webber's mother said the CPS had, in November, presented her family with "a fait accompli that the decision had been made to accept manslaughter charges".

From BBC