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)

, 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 The relocation of the statue, requested by the Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, was expected to be a fait accompli: An agreement was already in place to relocate the statue to the New-York Historical Society. — New York Times, 18 Oct. 2021 Trump’s supporters, though, see it as a fait accompli. — Chris Morris, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2022 By the early 1950s, the demise of the French luxury marques like Bugatti, Delage, and Delahaye was a fait accompli. — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2022 But the Bengals’ first down that seemed a fait accompli when Boyd gained 9 yards never became a reality. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2022 Perhaps Russia would have been forced to accept it as a fait accompli knowing that Ukraine would enjoy the full protection of the world's most fearsome military alliance. — David Faris, The Week, 31 Jan. 2022 By now Daniela Ryf was visible ahead, and the final outcome a fait accompli. — Matt Fitzgerald, Outside Online, 4 Jan. 2021 Typically, people bring us in when these proposals go through review, but in this case the Board made their decision and announced it as a fait accompli. — Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2022 All East Bank members and employees are fully vaccinated and the proof is on file with the club, making compliance with the city’s mandate a fait accompli. — Robert Channick, chicagotribune.com, 8 Jan. 2022 See More

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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fait accompli

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Last Updated

8 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Fait accompli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fait%20accompli. Accessed 16 May. 2022.

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