as in actual
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
with the death of his father, he became the de facto head of the family
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Recent Examples of de facto
The 16 women who had challenged the status quo, most notably Nancy Hopkins, the reluctant de facto leader, were thrilled but eager to return to their roles as elite scientists.
—
Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023
The measure received unanimous support in the House and Senate and drew Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, to both chambers Thursday.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
Beauty Turns Individuals into Communities Beauty salons and barber shops have traditionally played the role of de facto community centers in many places around the world.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
Pollard only lasted a handful of seasons, and in short order, the NFL erected its own de facto color barrier in 1933, thanks in large part to the efforts of George Preston Marshall, the then-Boston Redskins owner.
—Robert Silverman, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for de facto
Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023
The measure received unanimous support in the House and Senate and drew Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, to both chambers Thursday.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
Beauty Turns Individuals into Communities Beauty salons and barber shops have traditionally played the role of de facto community centers in many places around the world.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
Pollard only lasted a handful of seasons, and in short order, the NFL erected its own de facto color barrier in 1933, thanks in large part to the efforts of George Preston Marshall, the then-Boston Redskins owner.
—Robert Silverman, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for de facto
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de facto
Adjective
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The Aman Beverly Hills, currently under construction and expected to open in 2028, will supposedly not only include a full luxe floor for plastic surgery recovery but actual operating rooms, a private garden just for patients and surgeons on call.—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2026
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But what about the actual ceremony?—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Not only without the ball, their were moments of real quality when Cape Verde recovered possession, zipping the ball around the Spanish pressure and often looking to play their way out with short passes into midfield.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
In the scientific community, there are a few outliers, but by and large, there’s a pretty universal agreement among scientists that the climate crisis is real and important.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Mistaken identity is supposed to be a factual decision, like most offsides, so the referee does not need to watch it back.—
Ben Burrows,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
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While this is essential, factual accuracy on its own does not make a statement credible.—
Jennifer Best,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Life comes at you fast, and that could not be truer in the world of baseball.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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This is certainly true—and a rather banal truism.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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And as of now, the TCA doesn’t want to appear compromised by accepting sponsorship from the very networks and streamers it’s supposed to be impartially judging.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
19 June 2026
-
And going back to the very beginning of our conversation… complex characters are so rich in that way.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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