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

Terenzio was Kennedy’s chief of staff and, that summer, his de facto wedding planner. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026

States were sovereign de jure in nearly every way and de facto in nearly every other. — Max Taves, Mercury News, 3 July 2026

Adjective

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

Senior centers across the country function as de facto community centers. — Eliza Fawcett, New York Times, 6 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