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 difference is stark – the Manchester-by-the-Sea health board presented the NFG policy to residents as a fait accompli, and rejected a democratic vote to overturn, while Bellingham is allowing the tax-paying residents to determine their own fate.
—Peter Brennan, Boston Herald, 26 May 2025
On To pull off a fait accompli, Flynn noted, Chinese forces would need to cross the 100-mile Taiwan Strait under heavy fire.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fait accompli
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Peter Brennan, Boston Herald, 26 May 2025
On To pull off a fait accompli, Flynn noted, Chinese forces would need to cross the 100-mile Taiwan Strait under heavy fire.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
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
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 8 Jun. 2025.
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