de facto

Meanings

Adverb

• In practice; in actual use or existence, regardless of official or legal status.

Adjective

• In fact or in practice; in actual use or existence, regardless of official or legal status. (Often opposed to de jure.)

Noun

• A legally undeclared spouse; a partner in a spousal relationship which is not officially declared as a marriage, comparable to a common law husband or wife.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• common law husband/wife

Origin

• From Latin de facto, de + ablative of factum