de facto
Preserved but no longer current.
Actually, in reality; in opposition to de jure, lawfully or rightfully. Thus John was de facto king, but Arthur was so de jure. A legal axiom says : "De jure Judices, de facto Jurat ores, respondent" \ Judges look to the law, juries to the facts.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “de facto” mean?
Actually, in reality; in opposition to de jure, lawfully or rightfully. Thus John was de facto king, but Arthur was so de jure. A legal axiom says : "De jure Judices, de facto Jurat ores, respondent" \ Judges look to the law, juries to the facts.
Is “de facto” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.