fait accompli

noun

fait ac·​com·​pli ˈfā-tə-ˌkäm-ˈplē 

ˈfe-,

ˈfe-ˌta- 

-ˌkōⁿ(m)-,

 British usually  -ˈkäm-(ˌ)plē

plural faits accomplis ˈfā-tə-ˌkäm-ˈplē(z) 

ˈfe-,

ˈfe-ˌta-,

-ˌkōⁿ(m)-,

 British usually  -ˈkäm-(ˌ)plē(z)

: a thing accomplished and presumably irreversible

he charged that the members were presented with a fait accompli instead of being called to a meeting to discuss the policy change

—Daniel Thomases

Examples of fait accompli in a Sentence

By the time we learned about the decision, it was already a fait accompli.

Recent Examples on the Web

Impulsive decisions appear to be a fait accompli thanks to Soto singlehandedly changing the financial landscape of baseball. —Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

For years, Beijing has invested heavily in capabilities that aim to neutralize U.S. power projection in East Asia, potentially allowing China to impose a fait accompli over Taiwan. —Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024

Before this rebel resurgence, Assad’s survival seemed a fait accompli. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024

The Cardinal was fait accompli as the year wound down, and McNamara joined President-elect Kennedy's administration as secretary of defense. —Larry Printz, Ars Technica, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, accomplished fact

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above