First Known Use: 1601
Dictionary
1de facto
adverb de fac·to \di-ˈfak-(ˌ)tō, dā-, dē-\
Definition of DE FACTO
: in reality : actually
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of DE FACTO
Medieval Latin, literally, from the fact
2de facto
adjective
Definition of DE FACTO
1
: actual; especially : being such in effect though not formally recognized <a de facto state of war>
2
: exercising power as if legally constituted <a de facto government>
3
: resulting from economic or social factors rather than from laws or actions of the state <de facto segregation>
See de facto defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DE FACTO
circa 1689
Related to DE FACTO
- Antonyms
- conjectural, hypothetical, ideal, inexistent, nonexistent, platonic, possible, potential, suppositional, theoretical (also theoretic)
Other Legal Terms
Learn More About DE FACTO
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: defailancePrevious Word in the Dictionary: defaceAll Words Near: de facto
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up de facto? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).