fait accompli

noun fait ac·com·pli \ ˈfā-tə-ˌkäm-ˈplē , ˈfe- , ˈfe-ˌta- , -ˌkōⁿ(m)- , British usually -ˈkäm-(ˌ)plē \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

plural faits accomplis play \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

See fait accompli defined for English-language learners

Examples of fait accompli in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of fait accompli from the Web

Kim Jung-un concluded that the eight years of the Obama administration provided a rare golden moment to vastly expand its nuclear and missile capability — and then announce it as an irrevocable fait accompli after Obama left office.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "President Nobama," 16 Jan. 2018
With only the Cardinals and Brewers to worry about in the NL Central, a fourth straight postseason appearance, something that’s never happened to the franchise since the first World Series was played 115 years ago, seems like a fait accompli.

— paul sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Smooth sailing ahead for the Cubs — at least until October," 28 Mar. 2018
But such a case needs to be actively made, rather than offered up as a no-brainer; there’s little a populist demagogue can weaponize more easily than a policy, however sensible, presented by knowing elites as a high-minded fait accompli.

— jennifer szalai, New York Times, "In ‘The People vs. Democracy,’ Trump Is Just One Populist Among Many," 14 Mar. 2018
The theft and publication of Democratic emails was already a fait accompli, but a far more dire scenario concerned the administration.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump: Why Didn’t Obama Stop the Hacking That I Abetted?," 20 Feb. 2018
That’s not a criticism that this was some sort of fait accompli.

— albert breer, SI.com, "Josh McDaniels’ Decision Is Sign That Patriots Future Will Be Guided By New Leadership Core," 8 Feb. 2018
This now-common fait accompli, where judges demand access to internal deliberative documents, and when rebuffed rule against the president anyway, evinces the feeling of a show trial.

— josh blackman, National Review, "A Ludicrous Ruling That Trump Can’t End DACA," 10 Jan. 2018
There is little upside in getting too involved in an outcome that may be a fait accompli by the next election five years from now, or sooner.

— thomas penny, Bloomberg.com, "Corbyn Pulls Off Feat of Not Discussing Brexit at Conference," 25 Sep. 2017
The are those in MLS circles, however, who believe the club's departure is a fait accompli.

— brian straus, SI.com, "Columbus Does 180 on '18 Season Ticket Refunds; Garber Comments on Move Prospects," 25 Oct. 2017

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.