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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The actual production of the show is also driving an economic boom.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
10 July 2025
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If so, what happens to the role of fundamentals, the actual performance and value of companies, in determining prices?—
Spriha Srivastava,
CNBC,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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If no deal is reached by August, there is a real danger that President Trump will impose high tariffs.—
Myron Brilliant,
Time,
9 July 2025
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When marriages seemed to fail, there was no real option to divorce.—
Ann Foster,
JSTOR Daily,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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But the Court of Appeals ruling said a hearing to present evidence is not always required before issuing a preliminary injunction and if there are no factual disputes.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
3 July 2025
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With 74 percent of respondents expressing uncertainty about at least one claim's veracity, the findings highlight the challenge facing voters where shared factual understanding appears increasingly fragmented.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Staying true to her signature fusion of genres, Bonner also partnered with streetwear brand Y-3.—
Alice Pfeiffer,
CNN Money,
1 July 2025
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What’s the difference between something being emotionally true and factually true, and what should be valued more?—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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To answer these questions, NPR interviewed top vaccine researchers — including some tasked with looking at the very issue raised by this study about the safety of the DTP vaccine.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
1 July 2025
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In fact, many clinicians have voluntarily migrated to direct-to-patient care models, such as direct primary care and direct specialty care, for these very reasons.—
Ge Bai,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
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