fait accompli

noun

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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)

How to pronounce faits accomplis (audio)

, ˈfe- , ˈfe-ˌta- , -ˌkōⁿ(m)- , British usually -ˈkäm-(ˌ)plē(z) \

Definition of fait accompli

: 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 Israeli settlements in the West Bank and permanent control over the Jordan Valley are, in this view, a fait accompli. — Washington Post, "Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ is no deal at all," 29 Jan. 2020 While Xi's 2018 move to drop term limits on the presidency and clear the decks to serve for life may have involved much internal politicking within the Chinese Communist Party, it was presented to the country as a fait accompli. — James Griffiths, CNN, "Putin may be following Xi's lead, but he's nowhere near as secure as the Chinese leader," 15 Jan. 2020 Maybe this won’t wind up as the year the Patriots win a seventh Super Bowl, but that is hardly a fait accompli. — Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY, "Opinion: Don't be foolish — writing off Tom Brady and Patriots would be same old mistake," 4 Dec. 2019 But these projections are just that—forecasts based on current trends, not a fait accompli. — Julie Heath, Cincinnati.com, "Region's Economy: What's ahead for Cincinnati's job market in the next decade," 3 Dec. 2019 But when Fangio was hired, many incorrectly connected the dots and believed Kubiak serving as offensive coordinator was fait accompli. — Ryan O’halloran, The Denver Post, "Old friend, familiar offense when Broncos face Vikings and Gary Kubiak," 15 Nov. 2019 But the president’s fait accompli is constitutionally questionable. — The Economist, "Peru’s president opens Pandora’s box," 10 Oct. 2019 The City of Inglewood still owns the plot in question, but so long as a lawsuit involving James Dolan and MSG (which own the Forum) is resolved, Ballmer’s purchase of it is considered a fait accompli. — Albert Breer, SI.com, "In Atlanta, Dan Quinn Is Ready to Show Off the Falcons’ Coaching Overhaul," 22 July 2019 And then there’s the case of you and me, the public, who don’t get a look behind the curtain, especially if this is presented to the Board as fait accompli. — Los Angeles Times, "Racing! CHRB to take up new racing dates," 21 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fait accompli.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

3 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Fait accompli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fait%20accompli. Accessed 25 Feb. 2020.

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