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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Crypto deals raise questions Unless court orders are narrowly tailored to only cover the actual litigants, the administration argues, judges will have too much power to stall crucial presidential actions.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
12 May 2025
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Those three projects, officially housing around 5,000 souls but probably double or triple that number in actual head count, are each unofficially run by a gang.—
Paul Solotaroff,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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In this eerie tale about fear, lust, and female empowerment, the real question becomes whether this is an act of witchcraft—or a witch hunt.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
22 May 2025
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Performances from notable actors like Sean Bean and Patrick Stewart stand out, but the real stars are the voice actors who portray dozens of unique characters throughout Cyrodiil.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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This is a preview of The 1600—Tap here to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. fairness meter Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair.—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
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The backlash to Bongino’s factual statement is part of a broader political phenomenon.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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The Johnny King Buck In 2006, Wisconsin deer hunter Johnny King shot what some folks believe is the true world-record typical whitetail.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
15 May 2025
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The coloration of light in this image does not depict a true optical rainbow as would be seen by the naked eye, but rather a colored representation of different wavelengths of light that highlight the instrument's capability to analyze various components of the solar atmosphere.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Artists are being replaced by the very AI models that were built from their work without their consent or compensation.—
Karen Hao,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2025
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We are reminded by our guides that Everton won the first league title at Anfield and that Liverpool FC owe their very existence to that rent dispute.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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