De facto refers to situations that exist in reality or practice, even without official recognition

De facto is a Latin term meaning “in fact” or “in reality.” In legal and social contexts, it describes circumstances that are accepted and treated as true in practice, even if not formally or legally established. A common example is a de facto relationship, where couples live together in a marriage-like arrangement without being legally married.

• Used to distinguish between what exists in practice versus what is legally recognized
• Common in legal, business, and social contexts
• Different from “de jure” which means “by law”
• Often applies to relationships, standards, or practices that are widely accepted without formal recognition