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

Adjective

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

Example Sentences

Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Senior aides view the forthcoming State of the Union Address as a de facto launch of his reelection bid. —Nancy Cordes, Ed O'keefe, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2023

But in 2020, Azerbaijani troops launched an offensive to retake Nagorno-Karabakh, conquering swathes of territory and leaving Karabakh Armenians in control of just their de facto capital, Stepanakert, and the surrounding area. —Time, 18 Jan. 2023

But the female journalists of Bilan are not just challenging local newsroom culture rife with harassment and de facto glass ceilings. —Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jan. 2023

People familiar with the BOJ’s thinking say some officials want to give the December action more time, while others are concerned that a de facto interest-rate increase is the wrong move when the global economy seems poised for a slowdown in 2023. —Megumi Fujikawa, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2023

The scandal — and its mafia-like details — has shaken the de facto capital of the European Union, raising questions about corruption and influence peddling and renewing calls for tougher ethics rules. —Beatriz Ríos, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2023

When Yescas died in 1985, his followers recognized Arvizu as his heir and the de facto Danza Azteca leader in the United States. —Dua Anjum, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2023

Ken Fulk used floor-to-ceiling storage to create a de facto mudroom from an empty hallway. —Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 13 Jan. 2023

Boyd’s request for a release from the group, which serves as the de facto governing body of Columbia, comes after months of rumors about her job security. —Ethan Ehrenhaft, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2023

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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

History and Etymology for de facto

Adverb

Medieval Latin, literally, from the fact