From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishde factode fac‧to /ˌdeɪ ˈfæktəʊ $ dɪ ˈfæktoʊ, ˌdeɪ-/ adjective REAL/NOT IMAGINARY formal really existing although not legally stated to exist → de jure a de facto state of war —de facto adverb
Examples from the Corpus
de facto• Hyland is the department's de facto director.From Longman Business Dictionaryde factode fac‧to /ˌdeɪ ˈfæktəʊ dɪ ˈfæktoʊ, ˌdeɪ-/ adjective, adverb formalLAW really existing, even if there is no formal legal document etc to prove itPrior to the Companies Act 1976, resignation would have constituted a de facto breach of contract.Origin de facto (1600-1700) Latin “from what is done” 