English Explanatory Dictionary

de facto

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. In actual use or existence, regardless of official or legal status.
adj
  1. In actual use or existence, regardless of official or legal status.
noun
  1. A legally undeclared spouse; a partner in a spousal relationship which is not officially declared as a marriage, comparable to a common law husband or wife.

Pronunciation

/ˌdeɪˈfæktəʊ/ /dɪˈfæktəʊ/ /ˌdiːˈfæktəʊ/ /ˌdeɪˈfæktoʊ/ /dəˈfæktoʊ/ /ˌdiˈfæktoʊ/ EN-AU ck1 de facto.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-de facto.wav

Word forms

de facto defacto de factos

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin dē factō (literally “according to fact”), from dē (“according to”) + ablative of factum (“fact, deed, act”).

Synonyms

in fact in practice factually practically

Derived words

de facto corporation de facto partner de facto union
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