adjective actual, existing in fact
adverb in fact, in reality
In politics, 'de facto' is used to describe a situation that exists in reality, even if not officially recognized or intended.
In the legal field, 'de facto' refers to something that exists in fact, even if not officially recognized or sanctioned by law.
In business, 'de facto' can refer to a practice or situation that is accepted or adopted as a standard, even if not formally established.
In international relations, 'de facto' may describe a state of affairs that is true in practice, even if not formally acknowledged by all parties involved.
In the writing world, 'de facto' is often used to describe something that exists in practice but not necessarily by official designation. For example, a 'de facto standard' may refer to a common practice or guideline that is widely accepted by writers even if it is not formally recognized.
Psychologists may use 'de facto' to describe a situation or condition that is true in practice or in reality, even if it is not officially acknowledged. For example, a psychologist may refer to a 'de facto leader' in a group therapy session to describe someone who naturally takes on a leadership role, even if they were not appointed as such.