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De Facto

 [dee fak-toh, dey]   Example Sentences Origin

de fac·to

   [dee fak-toh, dey]
noun
1.
in fact; in reality: Although his title was prime minister, he was de facto president of the country. Although the school was said to be open to all qualified students, it still practiced de facto segregation.
2.
actually existing, especially when without lawful authority (distinguished from de jure).
3.
Australian. a person who lives in an intimate relationship with but is not married to a person of the opposite sex; lover.
Origin:
1595–1605; < Latin dē factō literally, from the fact

Can be confused: de facto, de jure.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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De Facto is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
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Example Sentences
  • But when they try to make their ideas a de facto facts, then we have problems.
  • In this prominent position, she's making her own de facto debut as a writer with a message for the general public.
  • Those that need capital will find it, even if it takes de facto nationalization.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
de facto (deɪ ˈfæktəʊ)
 
—adv
1.  in fact
 
—adj
2.  Compare de jure existing in fact, whether legally recognized or not: a de facto regime
 
—n , -tos
3.  (Austral), (NZ) a de facto husband or wife
 
[C17: Latin]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

de facto
c.1600, from L. de facto, lit. "in fact, in reality," thus, "existing, but not necessarily legally ordained."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
de facto [(di fak-toh, day fak-toh)]

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.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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