as in actual
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
with the death of his father, he became the de facto head of the family
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Recent Examples of de facto
The 16 women who had challenged the status quo, most notably Nancy Hopkins, the reluctant de facto leader, were thrilled but eager to return to their roles as elite scientists.
—
Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023
The measure received unanimous support in the House and Senate and drew Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, to both chambers Thursday.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
Beauty Turns Individuals into Communities Beauty salons and barber shops have traditionally played the role of de facto community centers in many places around the world.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
Pollard only lasted a handful of seasons, and in short order, the NFL erected its own de facto color barrier in 1933, thanks in large part to the efforts of George Preston Marshall, the then-Boston Redskins owner.
—Robert Silverman, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for de facto
Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023
The measure received unanimous support in the House and Senate and drew Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, to both chambers Thursday.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
Beauty Turns Individuals into Communities Beauty salons and barber shops have traditionally played the role of de facto community centers in many places around the world.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
Pollard only lasted a handful of seasons, and in short order, the NFL erected its own de facto color barrier in 1933, thanks in large part to the efforts of George Preston Marshall, the then-Boston Redskins owner.
—Robert Silverman, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for de facto
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de facto
Adjective
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The film, which largely unfolds on Christmas Eve, has a wonderful sense of the dying light of a late December day, the transition from a shade of damp gray to the inky black of night, and, even better, an actual sense of a particular American place.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, the actual cost of providing housing, meals and transportation for prisoners at Miami Correctional is about $80 per person.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The real clash with liberals is not over how big government should be, but over what the state should be empowered to do.—
Allan J. Lichtman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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That was an interesting time because so many people were trying to capitalize and not doing stuff that was real.—
Steve Baltin,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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After the property sale, Graham started fleecing his mother while transferring money from her New York bank and brokerage accounts into his own checking account in Miami, according to a factual statement filed with his plea agreement.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
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The problem here is that in the real world, factual accuracy is the bedrock of journalism, and objectivity would be a close second.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Slater’s first blast of the evening was a true wall-scraper in the top of the third, barely clearing the center-field fence to give the Giants an early 1-0 lead.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
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And remember, the point spread is designed to divide the wagers evenly, not be a true indicator of value.—
Jack Magruder,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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From the very beginning, Ben and I believed that our values and the pursuit of justice were more important than the company itself.—
Hugh Cameron
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Ironically, the very adaptability and intellectual courage the future demands are often harder to cultivate in today’s college climate.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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