fait accompli

noun

fait ac·​com·​pli ˈfā-tə-ˌkäm-ˈplē 

ˈfe-, 

ˈfe-ˌta- 

-ˌkōⁿ(m)-

British usually -ˈkäm-(ˌ)plē

plural faits accomplis ˈfā-tə-ˌkäm-ˈplē(z) 

ˈfe-, 

ˈfe-ˌta-, 

-ˌkōⁿ(m)-

British usually -ˈkäm-(ˌ)plē(z)

: a thing accomplished and presumably irreversible

He charged that the members were presented with a fait accompli instead of being called to a meeting to discuss the policy change.

—Daniel Thomases

Examples of fait accompli in a Sentence

By the time we learned about the decision, it was already a fait accompli.

Recent Examples on the Web

This made the 2034 tournament essentially a fait accompli for Saudi Arabia, which belongs to the Asian confederation. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 28 July 2026

Overall, the feeling that emerged from among those in the room was that the Paramount merger wasn’t fait accompli. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 July 2026

Lynn regards his factional triumph as a fait accompli. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026

In some years, the presentation of the best picture prize in the final minutes of the Oscars telecast feels like a fait accompli. — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, accomplished fact

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above