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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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