de jure

adverb or adjective

1
: by right : of right
2
: based on laws or actions of the state
de jure segregation

Did you know?

Coming straight from Latin, de jure is a term used mostly, but not always, in legal writing. Sometimes it's not enough to have something written into law; if a law isn't enforced, it might as well not exist. And if ordinary citizens are too scared of what would happen to them if they exercised their rights, then they don't really have those rights at all. Unfortunately, many countries have constitutions and laws that sound good but turn out not to have much effect. So de jure is almost always used in contrast to something else; its opposite is de facto.

Examples of de jure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Israeli lawyers and human rights activists say the move amounts to de jure annexation. Eric Cortellessa/jerusalem, TIME, 13 Aug. 2024 The generation before me used sit-ins and boycotts, marches and public demonstrations to secure voting rights for African-Americans and end de jure segregation. Gregory Meeks, New York Daily News, 8 May 2024 Neither Netanyahu nor Biden seems willing or able to slow this determined effort at de facto and de jure annexation of the West Bank. Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2023 Fresh, as in their acidity holds up, providing structure, purity and balance to an expression of Chardonnay (the de facto and de jure white grape of the region) that would frankly startle enthusiasts of the heavy-oak, big-fruit characteristics of much Chardonnay from California. Cathy Huyghe, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for de jure 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'de jure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of de jure was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near de jure

Cite this Entry

“De jure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/de%20jure. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

Legal Definition

de jure

adverb or adjective
1
: by right : of right
a de jure officer
2
: in accordance with law see also de jure segregation at segregation compare de facto
Etymology

Medieval Latin, literally, from the law

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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