ipso facto

adverb
ip·​so fac·​to | \ ˈip-(ˌ)sō-ˈfak-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce ipso facto (audio) \

Definition of ipso facto

: by that very fact or act : as an inevitable result

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Examples of ipso facto in a Sentence

if we refuse to tolerate bigotry, do we become, ipso facto, as intolerant as those whom we condemn?

Recent Examples on the Web

Former President Jimmy Carter has been married once (virtually all critics of Trump note that he is thrice married, as if that were ipso facto a character defect), and to the best of anyone’s knowledge, has been faithful to his wife all those years. Dennis Prager, National Review, "A Defense of Evangelicals Who Support Trump," 6 Feb. 2018 More likely, Williamson’s actual belief is that whatever Pruitt does is ipso facto good. Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "National Review Shows Why Conservatives Outsourced Environmental Policy to Lobbyists and Kooks," 7 Jan. 2018 The need to recruit at least eight Democrats to push a new healthcare bill over the filibuster threshold will move it, ipso facto, to the left of GCHJ. Deroy Murdock, National Review, "GOP Dysfunction Will Paralyze the Conservative Base in 2018," 27 Sep. 2017 The equation here has become, for those resisting the monuments, and understandably, that anything Confederate is ipso facto a memorial to white supremacy. Isaac Chotiner, Slate Magazine, "How Should We Remember the Confederacy?," 9 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ipso facto.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of ipso facto

1548, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for ipso facto

New Latin, literally, by the fact itself

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More Definitions for ipso facto

ipso facto

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of ipso facto

formal : because of that fact : because of the fact that has just been mentioned

ipso facto

adverb
ip·​so fac·​to | \ ˈip-sō-ˈfak-tō How to pronounce ipso facto (audio) \

Legal Definition of ipso facto

: by that very fact or act : as an inevitable result drove the getaway car and was ipso facto an accessory

History and Etymology for ipso facto

New Latin, literally, by the fact itself

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