DE FACTO Definition & Meaning

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de facto

[dee fak-toh, dey]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

in fact; in reality: They are forbidden from leaving the camp, thereby being de facto in a state of detention.
Although his title was prime minister, he was de facto president of the country.
They are forbidden from leaving the camp, thereby being de facto in a state of detention.
actually existing, especially when without lawful authority (de jure ).
He led efforts to reduce de facto segregation in the city's public schools.

Australia.��a person who lives with someone in an intimate romantic relationship but is not married to that person.

de facto

/ deɪ ˈfæktəʊ /

existing in fact, whether legally recognized or not Compare de jure
a de facto regime

de facto

Something generally accepted or agreed to without any formal decision in its favor: “They never elected him; he became their leader de facto.” From Latin, meaning “in fact.” (Compare de jure.)

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First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin dē factō literally, “from the fact”

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C17: Latin

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Examples have not been reviewed.

But the reality of the war points towards a de facto partition between bitterly opposed warring camps.

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Further injuries to top right-handed relievers pushed him into a de facto leverage role.

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But in an 11-1 loss to the San Diego Padres, they took the act of de facto forfeiture to levels even they hadn’t previously pioneered.

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For 18 years, we had a de facto Palestinian state.

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For five more years, I accepted my pet ownership, especially knowing he was a de facto emotional support animal for my now-16-year-old daughter.

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