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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
However, the actual offboarding, where organizations begin to lose critical knowledge, often occurs long before and much more quietly.—
Bhushan Parikh,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
-
Their wounds are remarkably fresh, given the dates of the actual bombings.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
That's pretty high in today's electric-mobility market, but the real problem for the new VanMoof will be regaining rider loyalty and trust.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 June 2025
-
That seems like a very high number and could create real problems.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
In turn, Bivins brought in another friend to execute the deadly plot, according to an FBI criminal complaint and the factual statement filed with his plea agreement.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2025
-
Have three response templates ready: factual correction for misinformation, values reaffirmation for criticism, and security protocol for threats.—
Gillian Oakenfull,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
Beyond all of the twists and many, many, many turns that kept viewers tuned in every Tuesday night, the core of the show was about true female friendship and the loyalty that comes with that, no matter what.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2025
-
This milieu is both true to history and solves one of the series’ longstanding structural flaws.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
The truth is, the very data meant to illuminate the path can become a labyrinth of pitfalls if not navigated with caution and a clear strategy.—
Ramalakshmi Murugan,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
What used to be a very niche field with only a small handful of offerings has become a cottage industry full of contenders and pretenders, and any number of startups offering a readymade conversion for your bike.—
Michael Venutolo-Mantovani,
Wired News,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share