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
-
Because this is an actual converted home, no two rooms are exactly alike, though they have been divided into three categories based on size.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
And the medium, as you guys know, gives you an opportunity to really go deeper on issues and also to talk like an actual human being as opposed to a talking points machine.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This maneuver required immense torque and real-time motion control to avoid collisions.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Once Tyler and Beau got there to Victory Lane, right before the confetti popped and rained down and reminded Reddick that yes, this was real, and yes, Jordan was bear-hugging him, and yes, a childhood dream had come true — a new memory took place.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Below, a drill-down on Banijay’s biggest drama plays at the Screenings and a selection of factual shows and formats.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
-
However, such information, while factual, is inappropriate for sports commentary due to its length.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But despite his characteristic command and media savvy, Jackson’s campaign never gained true momentum, scoring mixed results.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
This, however, is not true of US Skimo, which has been rapidly professionalizing as a governing body since the sport was announced as a future Winter Olympic event back in 2021.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This very ice has chewed up and spit out its fair share of competitors in the last two weeks.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Additionally, much of Turkey’s success as a hub for hair restoration comes from its very infrastructure.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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