de jure

adverb or adjective

de ju·​re (ˌ)dē-ˈju̇r-ē  (ˌ)dā-ˈyu̇r- 

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

But the de facto ceding of territory temporarily is preferable to the de jure handing over of land permanently. —Michael McFaul, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2025

So there's de facto recognition and de jure recognition. —NBC news, 10 Aug. 2025

Brown ended de jure segregation for Black children. —Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 10 Aug. 2025

Abu Dhabi demands a de jure AI-export waiver that treats the UAE like the UK. —Guney Yildiz, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for de jure

• abjure
• adjure
• allure
• assure
• brochure
• cocksure
• coiffure
• contour
• couture
• demure
• detour
• endure

Legal Definition

de jure

adverb or adjective

de ju·​re dē-ˈju̇r-ē, dā-ˈyu̇r-ā 

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