as in actual
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
with the death of his father, he became the de facto head of the family
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Recent Examples of de facto
The 16 women who had challenged the status quo, most notably Nancy Hopkins, the reluctant de facto leader, were thrilled but eager to return to their roles as elite scientists.
—
Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023
The measure received unanimous support in the House and Senate and drew Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, to both chambers Thursday.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
Beauty Turns Individuals into Communities Beauty salons and barber shops have traditionally played the role of de facto community centers in many places around the world.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
Pollard only lasted a handful of seasons, and in short order, the NFL erected its own de facto color barrier in 1933, thanks in large part to the efforts of George Preston Marshall, the then-Boston Redskins owner.
—Robert Silverman, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for de facto
Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023
The measure received unanimous support in the House and Senate and drew Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, to both chambers Thursday.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
Beauty Turns Individuals into Communities Beauty salons and barber shops have traditionally played the role of de facto community centers in many places around the world.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
Pollard only lasted a handful of seasons, and in short order, the NFL erected its own de facto color barrier in 1933, thanks in large part to the efforts of George Preston Marshall, the then-Boston Redskins owner.
—Robert Silverman, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for de facto
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de facto
Adjective
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Then there’s what’s inside the actual soup.—
Shindy Chen,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
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This model ensures that the people most affected by these issues have actual input rather than just serving as inspirational case studies.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani offered a different interpretation of the ongoing dilemma, saying that jury nullification is a real possibility, especially when politics is involved.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
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First, the Chavist regime of Nicolás Maduro is not operating like a real state or even a classic dictatorship.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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OpenAI also says there is a 45 percent to 65 percent reduction in factual errors over GPT-4, depending on the setting, as well as substantial gains in handling medical and coding tasks on industry-standard benchmarks.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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In the ruling, Southwick emphasized that while presidents enjoy wide discretion under the AEA, the courts retain authority to interpret the statute’s key terms and decide whether the factual findings fit within them.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Redshirt junior Colton Boomer and true freshman Canaan Moore ach missed a field goal — Boomer from 46 yards and Moore from 24.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Sep. 2025
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Red maple Red maple stays true to its name.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Those looking to get their steps in might ping pong between the Lake Stage, near Polk Bros Park at the Pier’s entrance point, and the East Stage, at the very end, practically in the lake.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Founded by Chief Creative Officer, Michael Vamosy, DefiantLA goes one step forward with every project, reshaping the very way brands engage with audiences.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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