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
Yet, despite all the pre-season prognostications, winning the division is no longer a fait accompli.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
In the Washington Post piece, Archbishop Broglio framed the program’s demise as a fait accompli.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
But Jeremiah suggested Friday that a Jeanty-Raiders pairing isn’t a fait accompli.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025
No one knows what the presidential landscape three years from now will look like, but Sanders’ hand off to Ocasio-Cortez looks suspiciously like a fait accompli.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fait accompli
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
In the Washington Post piece, Archbishop Broglio framed the program’s demise as a fait accompli.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
But Jeremiah suggested Friday that a Jeanty-Raiders pairing isn’t a fait accompli.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2025
No one knows what the presidential landscape three years from now will look like, but Sanders’ hand off to Ocasio-Cortez looks suspiciously like a fait accompli.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fait accompli
Cite this Entry
“Fait accompli.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fait%20accompli. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share