de facto

1 of 2

adverb

de fac·​to di-ˈfak-(ˌ)tō 

dā-, 

dē-

: in reality : actually

became the leader de facto

de facto

2 of 2

adjective

1

: actual

especially : being such in effect though not formally recognized

a de facto state of war

Whatever it says on the calendar, Florida has de facto summer.

—E. L. Konigsburg

has become the movement's de facto spokesperson

2

: exercising power as if legally constituted

a de facto government

the de facto head of state

3

: resulting from economic or social factors rather than from laws or actions of the state

de facto segregation

Synonyms of de facto

Adjective

• actual
• real
• factual
• true
• very

Examples of de facto in a Sentence

Adjective

with the death of his father, he became the de facto head of the family

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

By that time, Babs is fully-formed as the female crime boss and de facto leader of her town of Waterville, Maine. — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 6 July 2026

Some team executives and agents have considered the second apron, set at just under $222 million this coming season, as a de facto hard cap since its inception. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Adjective

But many supported the move and came to regard it as a de facto safe consumption site, a model that exists in cities around the world and in New York, where people can use drugs in a supervised setting. — Trisha Thadani, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2023

The portal has brought about de facto unfettered free agency in major college football and basketball. — Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

borrowed from Medieval Latin, literally, "from the fact"

Adjective

derivative of de facto entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

1601, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

de facto

1 of 2 adverb

de fac·​to di-ˈfak-tō, dā-, dē- 

: in reality : actually

these two constraints have been lifted, one de facto and one de jure

—Susan Lee

de facto

2 of 2 adjective

1

: actual

especially : being such in effect though not formally recognized see also de facto segregation at segregation

2

: exercising power as if legally constituted or authorized

a de facto government

a de facto judge

compare de jure

Etymology

Adverb

Medieval Latin, literally, from the fact