fait accompli

Definitions

1. Something which has already happened, before those affected had the chance to raise objections or queries; especially, such a thing that cannot be undone.
2. An action or establishment that cannot be undone.

Equivalents

14 more languages

العربيةأمر واقع

Ελληνικάτετελεσμένο γεγονός

Suomitapahtunut tosiasia

עבריתעובדה מוגמרת

Bahasa Indonesiafait accomplifetakompli

Íslenskaorðinn hlutur

Italianofatto compiuto

日本語既成事実

Кыргызчаболгон иш

Nederlandsvoldongen feit

Polskifakt dokonany

Portuguêsfait accomplifato consumado

Русскийпостфактумсвершившийся факт

Türkçeemrivakioldubittiolupbitti

Examples

“Thanks to a bureaucratic fait accompli, the demolition was already approved and has already started.”

“Mr. Quiverful's appointment to the hospital was, however, a fait accompli, and Mr. Harding's acquiescence in that appointment was not less so.”

““In quarters where the fait accompli is an object of solicitude,” said Yeovil.”

“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.”

“[Hal] Varian awards surveillance capitalists the privilege of the experimenter's role, and this is presented as another casual fait accompli.”

“Near-synonyms: done deal⟳, water under the bridge”

“The introduction of white clover to the Americas is a fait accompli.”

CEFR level