Definition: De facto

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Etymology

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

Adverb

de facto (not comparable)

  1. (modal) In practice; in actual use or existence, regardless of official or legal status.

Adjective

de facto (not comparable)

  1. In fact or in practice; in actual use or existence, regardless of official or legal status. (Often opposed to de jure.)
    Although the United States currently has no official language, it is largely monolingual with English being the de facto national language.

Noun

de facto (plural de factos)

  1. (Australia, New Zealand) 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.

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