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de facto

/dɪˈfæktəʊ/

noun

Meaning

  • 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.

adjective

Meaning

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

    "Although the United States currently has no official language, it is largely monolingual with English being the de facto national language."

adverb

Meaning

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