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Law vocabulary · Latin Legal Terms

De jure

Meaning in law, with examples

adjectiveAdvanced term

In law, de jure means: A Latin phrase meaning 'by law' or 'according to law', describing a situation that exists officially and legally, whether or not it exists in practice.

In Turkish: hukuken, hukuki, kanunen

How it is used

Usually contrasted with 'de facto': a 'de jure' director has been formally appointed, while a 'de facto' director acts as one without an appointment. It is also used in international law about the recognition of governments and in discussions of discrimination ('de jure segregation').

Example sentences

  1. He is the de jure owner, but his brother has run the business for years.

  2. The question is whether the company was the de jure employer or only the de facto one.

Common collocations

  • de jure and de facto
  • de jure director
  • de jure recognition
  • de jure discrimination
  • de factoExisting in reality or in practice, even if not officially established by law; the opposite of 'de jure', which means 'by law'.
  • legalConnected with the law or the legal system; also allowed by the law, the opposite of illegal.
  • bona fideReal and honest, or acting in good faith without any intention to deceive; from the Latin for 'in good faith'.
  • per seA Latin phrase meaning 'by itself' or 'in itself', used to say that something is true without needing anything else to be shown.

More terms: Latin Legal Terms

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.