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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Examples of de facto in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023
Another item in the package extends the de facto period of service for individuals serving on local boards and commissions beyond a looming February deadline and into April.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Jan. 2023
Previously, Disney had de facto control of the board as the district's largest landowner.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 10 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
See all Example Sentences for de facto 
Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023
Another item in the package extends the de facto period of service for individuals serving on local boards and commissions beyond a looming February deadline and into April.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Jan. 2023
Previously, Disney had de facto control of the board as the district's largest landowner.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 10 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
See all Example Sentences for de facto
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de facto
Adjective
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However, these are remote and experts say may not be a good substitute for actual human interaction.Sarah Prazmark, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
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This provisional ranking reflects trends in the overall risks of implementing AI in enterprises, and the actual order varies depending on the needs of the business.Oleksandr Sheremeta, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Now, as the divide between real life and life online has begun to fade, a new era in politics has begun.Jack Schlossberg, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2024
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Plainly, the states don’t even know the real figures.Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The algorithms of all major social media platforms routinely amplify content with misinformation more than factual posts.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
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Our safety, particularly that of our most vulnerable citizens, depends on electing judges who prioritize factual integrity and legal expertise.Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The movie’s true set pieces are the professorial villain’s ostentatious monologues using fast food, musical plagiarism, and Monopoly as metaphors to point out how modern religions are just conspicuous iterations of what’s come before.Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
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However, our Editors’ Choice, GameMaker, does a better job balancing consumer convenience with true professional game development potential.PCMAG, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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His plans threaten California’s clean air standards and immigration protections, affecting families, communities and the very quality of life that defines this state.Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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There’s this extraordinary moment where the ending of the Jan 6th hearings were concluding at the very moment of his entire congressional career.Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near de facto
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
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