de facto
adverb
de fac·to
| \ di-ˈfak-(ˌ)tō
, dā-, dē-\
, dā-, dē-\
Definition of de facto
(Entry 1 of 2)
: in reality : actually
became the leader de facto
de facto
adjectiveDefinition of de facto (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: actual
especially
: being such in effect though not formally recognized
a de facto state of war Whatever it says on the calendar, Florida has de facto summer. — E. L. Konigsburg has become the movement's de facto spokesperson
2
: exercising power as if legally constituted
a de facto government the de facto head of state
3
: resulting from economic or social factors rather than from laws or actions of the state
de facto segregation