de facto

adjective
UK: /deɪ ˈfæktəʊ/
US: /deɪ ˈfæktoʊ/

  1. Existing in fact, even if not officially recognized.

    1. The island is de facto under his control.
    2. English is the de facto national language of the United States because most people speak it.

  2. In reality or actually; exercising power without legal authority.

    1. He became de facto leader of the country.
    2. Although there's a council, she's the de facto decision-maker in the organization.

Synonyms

actual real unofficial practical
de facto adverb

  1. In fact, or in practice.

    1. It's their rule de facto, though not by law.
    2. De facto, the school system was segregated, despite laws against it.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "de facto" in English means: Existing in fact, even if not officially recognized., In reality or actually; exercising power without legal authority..

The phonetic transcription of "de facto" is /deɪ ˈfæktəʊ/ in British English and /deɪ ˈfæktoʊ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "de facto": actual, real, unofficial, practical.

Example usage of "de facto": "The island is de facto under his control.". More examples on the page.