de facto

 
Pronunciation: /deɪ ˈfaktəʊ, diː/

adverb

  • in fact, whether by right or not: the country was de facto divided between two statesOften contrasted with de jure.

adjective

  • existing or holding a specified position in fact but not necessarily by legal right: a de facto one-party system

Origin:

Latin, literally 'of fact'