de facto

¹de fac·to

adverb \di-ˈfak-(ˌ)tō, dā-, dē-\

Definition of DE FACTO

: in reality : actually

Origin of DE FACTO

Medieval Latin, literally, from the fact

First Known Use: 1601

²de facto

adjective

Definition of DE FACTO

1

: actual; especially : being such in effect though not formally recognized <a de facto state of war>

2

: exercising power as if legally constituted <a de facto government>

3

: resulting from economic or social factors rather than from laws or actions of the state <de facto segregation>

Examples of DE FACTO

1. <with the death of his father, he became the de facto head of the family>

First Known Use of DE FACTO

circa 1689

Related to DE FACTO

Synonyms

concrete, actual, effective, existent, factual, genuine, real, sure-enough, true, very

Antonyms

conjectural, hypothetical, ideal, inexistent, nonexistent, platonic, possible, potential, suppositional, theoretical (also theoretic)

Related Words

attested, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, valid, validated, verified; incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, inescapable, irrefutable, undeniable, unquestionable; believable, convincing, literal, realistic, unmistakable, verifiable; authentic, bona fide, real-life, real-world; absolute, certain, final, hard, objective, palpable, positive, substantial, tangible; authoritative, certifiable, certified

Near Antonyms

alleged, assumed, reputed, supposed; conceived, envisaged, envisioned, imagined, pictured, visualized; chimerical (also chimeric), fabled, fanciful, fictional, fictitious, illusory, legendary; fabricated, fake, imaginary, invented, made-up, make-believe, pretend, romantic; abstract, symbolic, unreal; virtual

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi