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
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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Last year, poor air quality from wildfire smoke in Canada spread all the way to New York and many states in northeastern America, posing dangerous threats to health hundreds and thousands of miles away from the actual fire.Omer Awan, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
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Given that the cast had a complex relationship with fame due to their actual names and faces in the film, Toti, Kempf and Christian decided to never release the project to streaming, digital or an easily pirateable physical release.William Earl, Variety, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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If style is your top priority but function is less important, expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $250, depending on the brand and materials (for example, real leather is often more expensive).Avery Stone, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025
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Normally, the jet stream resembles a real stream, slicing directly across the country with perhaps a few small meanders.Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This article includes reporting from The Associated Press. fairness meter fairness meter Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair.Natalie Venegas, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
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The emotional impact of VR experiences could potentially overshadow factual evidence, and different viewing angles might lead to inconsistent interpretations among jurors.Lars Daniel, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Breaking free from that inertia will be the industry’s true challenge.Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 2 Jan. 2025
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And this is the true challenge of any advancement in artificial intelligence, especially for those aiming to benefit all of humanity, as stated in OpenAI's AGI definition.Hamilton Mann, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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All of these enhancements will help create a more entertaining PGA Tour for our fans, a goal that is at the very core of our decision-making process.Jay Monahan, Sportico.com, 2 Jan. 2025
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Arguments from the industry have been strident, emphasizing that this would likely work the opposite way, and defeat the very goal that the government was aspiring towards.Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 2 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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