DE FACTO


Meaning of DE FACTO in English

I. di-ˈfak-(ˌ)tō, dā-, dē- adverb

Etymology: Medieval Latin, literally, from the fact

Date: 1601

: in reality : actually

II. adjective

Date: circa 1689

1. : actual ; especially : being such in effect though not formally recognized

a de facto state of war

2. : exercising power as if legally constituted

a de facto government

3. : resulting from economic or social factors rather than from laws or actions of the state

de facto segregation

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.