fait accompli

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French fait accompli (“an accomplished fact”), from fait (“a fact”) + accompli (“accomplished”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfeɪt.əˌkɔm.pli/

Noun

fait accompli (plural faits accomplis)

1. An accomplished fact, something that has already occurred.
   • 1906, Anthony Trollope, Barchester Towers, Chapter XLVII. The Dean Elect

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

   • 1913, Saki, When William Came, Chapter VII

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

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.

Synonyms

• done deal (US)

Translations

established fact

• Azerbaijani: baş tutmuş fakt
• Bulgarian: свършен факт m (svǎršen fakt)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 既成事實 (zh), 既成事实 (zh) (jìchéng shìshí)

• Danish: fait accompli
• Dutch: voldongen feit n
• Finnish: tapahtunut tosiasia
• French: fait accompli (fr) m
• German: vollendete Tatsache f, Fait accompli (de) f
• Greek: προ τετελεσμένου γεγονότος (pro tetelesménou gegonótos)
• Hebrew: עובדה מוגמרת‎ f (uvdá mugméret), מעשה עשוי‎ m (maasé asúy)
• Hungarian: kész helyzet

• Icelandic: orðinn hlutur m, búið og gert n
• Italian: fatto compiuto m
• Japanese: 既成事実 (ja) (きせいじじつ, kisei jijitsu)
• Kyrgyz: болгон иш (ky) (bolğon iş), факт (ky) (fakt)
• Persian: عمل انجام‌شده‎
• Polish: fakt dokonany m
• Portuguese: fait accompli m
• Russian: сверши́вшийся факт m (sveršívšijsja fakt)
• Spanish: hecho consumado m
• Swedish: fullbordat faktum n
• Turkish: emrivaki (tr), oldubitti (tr), olupbitti (tr)
• Ukrainian: доконаний факт m (dokonanyj fakt)

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɛ.t‿a.kɔ̃.pli/

• Audio (CAN)

  (file)

Noun

fait accompli m (plural faits accomplis)

1. a fait accompli, a done deal

Usage notes

Only used in the expression “placer/mettre quelqu’un devant le fait accompli” meaning “to present somebody with a fait accompli”.

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Portuguese

Noun

fait accompli m (plural faits accomplis)

1. fait accompli (an established fact)