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fait accompli. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
fait accompli, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
fait accompli in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
fait accompli you have here. The definition of the word
fait accompli will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
fait accompli, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Borrowed from French fait accompli (“an accomplished fact”), from fait (“a fact”) + accompli (“accomplished”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˌfeɪt.əˈkɔm.pli/, /ˌfeɪt.əˌkɔmˈpli/
Noun
fait accompli (plural faits accomplis)
- An accomplished fact, something that has already occurred.
- Synonym: (US) done deal
1857, Anthony Trollope, chapter XLVII, in Barchester Towers. , copyright edition, volume II, Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, published 1859, →OCLC, page 272:Mr. Quiverful's appointment to the hospital was, however, a fait accompli, and Mr. Harding's acquiescence in that appointment was not less so.
2003, Matthew Restall, Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 65:The phrase “Spanish Conquest” and all it implies has come down through history because the Spaniards were so concerned to depict their endeavors as conquests and pacifications, as contracts fulfilled, as providential intention, as faits accomplis.
2018, Shoshana Zuboff, chapter 10, in The Age of Surveillance Capitalism:[Hal] Varian awards surveillance capitalists the privilege of the experimenter's role, and this is presented as another casual fait accompli.
Usage notes
Often said of something irreversible and/or performed without going through standard procedure, completed before those affected by it are in a position to query or reverse it.
Translations
French
Pronunciation
Noun
fait accompli m (plural faits accomplis)
- a fait accompli, a done deal
Usage notes
- Most often used in the expression “placer/mettre quelqu’un devant le fait accompli” meaning “to present somebody with a fait accompli”.
Portuguese
Noun
fait accompli m (plural faits accomplis)
- fait accompli (an established fact)