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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His obsession with gilding everything, whether with actual gold or paint, feels not unlike a Goodwill-furniture-flipper’s antiquing hack.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
25 Sep. 2025
-
An actual indictment would ultimately need to be backed by a grand jury, after hearing evidence put on by a prosecutor.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Don’t rely on ballpark guesses in place of a real CMA.—
Mary Beth Eastman,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
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But perhaps the most telling part of Jones’ resurrection with the Colts is what he’s done against defenses that still aren’t convinced this is real.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Everything that LaFleur said was factual and taking responsibility for his poor coaching performance was a must.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Sep. 2025
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Its win reflects South’s role as a launchpad for Spanish factual, with RTVE Play ramping up originals that could later grow their international footprintvia RTVE Sales, bolstering Spain’s documentary footprint abroad.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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By this time, Elio is beginning to confront the reality of Oliver’s eventual departure (and thus, his first experience of true heartbreak).—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
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This time, the Cougars feature a true freshman at QB in Bear Bachmeier, who has looked sharp throwing for 518 yards and four TDs as BYU breezed through non-conference play.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And the very governments that sought to address domestic opposition to Israeli policy by announcing recognitions will come under more pressure to impose formal sanctions.—
SHIRA EFRON,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Sep. 2025
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Just as actors embody characters to reveal deeper truths, Giorgio Armani has clothed cinematic figures in garments that became part of their very identities for 50 years.—
Bruna Nessif,
Variety,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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