other names · Added 9 October 2026
De facto and de jure
Latin expressions meaning 'from fact' and 'from law'
De facto and de jure are contrasting concepts, with de facto being used to refer to the actual existence of a state of affairs, and de jure being used to refer to the legal existence of something even if it is not represented in reality. These terms are particularly used in the context of law and governance. For example, the de facto ruler of a country is the individual who actually runs the government, and the de jure leader may merely be a legal office holder with little power.
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Not a dictionary word, so it lives in Other Names.
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