The expression de facto comes straight from the Latin words de, meaning "of, about," and facto, meaning "fact." The phrase refers to something that exists "in fact," or in reality, regardless of any other official designation or formal acknowledgement that may exist. For instance, while they are unelected, wealthy donors and corporations are often the de facto decision makers for some political campaigns because the politician cannot win without their financial contributions.
Friday, March 11, 2022