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
-
The upstairs of Niall’s house was a set, and the actual dinner table was someone’s home.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
Students and faculty use it for notes, study guides and even actual final exams.—
Asal Rezaei,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s no real way around historical McCarthyism.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Later in the day, the menu shifts to a mix of Chinese and international dishes, but the view is the real star.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
This story has been updated to correct a factual error.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
-
Among Friday’s industry crowd were BBC chief content officer Kate Phillips; BBC Studios CEO Tom Fussell; Zai Bennett, CEO of BBC Studios Global Content; and Kate Ward, managing director, factual at BBC Studios.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
This is true only in the narrowest sense.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
That was certainly true on Monday, as Lamont signed a new 124-page labor bill into law.—
Andrew Brown,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
The kind of storm leaving Maxey resigned to the very idea of defeat before the halftime break.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
The profits from these amateur community shows funded the very infrastructure of Jim Crow America, from paving streets, financing university buildings, and building the hospitals and schools that Black citizens were systematically excluded from using.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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