Word of the Day - 10/03/26
fait accompli
/ˌfeɪt əˈkɑmpli/(n.): an irreversible accomplishment
The merger of the two companies was a fait accompli by the time employees were informed, leaving no room for objection.
Word Origin
The phrase 'fait accompli' is French, meaning 'accomplished fact'. It is composed of 'fait', the past participle of the French verb 'faire' (to do or make), which comes from the Latin 'facere' (to do or make). The second part is 'accompli', the past participle of the French verb 'accomplir' (to accomplish or complete), derived from the Latin 'ad-' (to) and 'complere' (to fill up, complete). The phrase is used in English to describe something that has already happened and is therefore an irreversible fact.
Words sharing a similar origin with 'fait' include 'fact' and 'feat', both stemming from the Latin 'factum' (a thing done). Similarly, 'accompli' shares roots with English words like 'accomplish' and 'complete', which also derive from the Latin 'complere' (to fill up, complete).