fait accompli
noun
fait ac·com·pli
ˈfā-tə-ˌkäm-ˈplē 
ˈfe-,
ˈfe-ˌta-
-ˌkōⁿ(m)-,
British usually -ˈkäm-(ˌ)plē
plural faits accomplis
ˈfā-tə-ˌkäm-ˈplē(z)
ˈfe-,
ˈfe-ˌta-,
-ˌkōⁿ(m)-,
British usually -ˈkäm-(ˌ)plē(z)
: a thing accomplished and presumably irreversible
he charged that the members were presented with a fait accompli instead of being called to a meeting to discuss the policy change—
Daniel Thomases
Daniel ThomasesExamples of fait accompli in a Sentence
By the time we learned about the decision, it was already a fait accompli.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Cardinal was fait accompli as the year wound down, and McNamara joined President-elect Kennedy's administration as secretary of defense.
—Larry Printz, Ars Technica, 26 Sep. 2024
As opposed to solving the problem or mitigating carbon emissions, climate resilience or adaptation assumes climate breakdown is unavoidable, a fait accompli.
—David Introcaso, STAT, 15 Aug. 2024
Under such a scenario, Russia would attempt to seize NATO territory and China would blockade Taiwan as a fait accompli to undermine alliance cohesion.
—Lorenz Meier, TIME, 13 Aug. 2024
In a system predicated on maintaining the status quo, reelection was practically a fait accompli, so long as one did the bare minimum and avoided openly taking bribes.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2024
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Larry Printz, Ars Technica, 26 Sep. 2024
As opposed to solving the problem or mitigating carbon emissions, climate resilience or adaptation assumes climate breakdown is unavoidable, a fait accompli.
—David Introcaso, STAT, 15 Aug. 2024
Under such a scenario, Russia would attempt to seize NATO territory and China would blockade Taiwan as a fait accompli to undermine alliance cohesion.
—Lorenz Meier, TIME, 13 Aug. 2024
In a system predicated on maintaining the status quo, reelection was practically a fait accompli, so long as one did the bare minimum and avoided openly taking bribes.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for fait accompli
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Cite this Entry
“Fait accompli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fait%20accompli. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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