De Jure: Meaning and Definition
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De jure is Latin for "by law" or "according to law": it describes something that exists because the law formally establishes or recognizes it. It is usually contrasted with de facto ("in fact"), which describes what actually exists in practice, whether or not the law recognizes it.
What de jure means, how it is used in contracts, company law and government, and how it differs from de facto.
Last updated 28 October 2026
De jure meaning in plain English
De jure (commonly pronounced "day JOOR-ee" or "dee JOOR-ee") answers the question "what does the law say?" A de jure status, right or rule exists on paper because a constitution, statute, court order, corporate document or contract created it. It says nothing about whether that status is followed or effective in practice; that is what its opposite, de facto, describes.
De jure vs de facto
| De jure | De facto | |
|---|---|---|
| Literal meaning | "Of law": by right, according to law | "Of fact": in reality, in practice |
| Basis | Formal legal authority, such as a statute, charter, election, appointment or signed agreement | Actual practice, control or conduct, whether or not formally authorized |
| Government | A government holding office under the country's constitution | A group that actually controls territory, whatever its legal status |
| Company | A corporation formed in compliance with the incorporation statute | Traditionally, a corporation with a defective formation that made a good-faith attempt to incorporate and acted as one (a doctrine limited or abolished by statute in many states) |
| Management | The officer or director validly appointed under the bylaws | The person who actually runs the business day to day |
| Segregation | Segregation imposed by law or intentional government action, including the school laws held unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and discriminatory school-board policies | Racial separation without intentional government action to segregate; the absence of a segregation statute alone does not establish this |
| Standards | A standard required by statute or regulation | A standard everyone follows because the market adopted it |
How de jure is used in contracts and business
- Authority to sign. A contract should be signed by someone with actual authority, such as an officer authorized by the bylaws, a board resolution or a power of attorney. If the signer lacks it, the other side may have to rely on apparent authority, which is why signature blocks and authority representations matter.
- Control. Change-of-control and affiliate definitions often test control in two ways: formal ownership of a majority of voting securities, and practical power to direct management. Drafters choose deliberately which one triggers the clause.
- Directors. Company law in some jurisdictions treats a person who acts as a director without valid appointment as a de facto director, with many of the duties of a de jure (validly appointed) director.
A typical "Control" definition covers both:
"Control" means the direct or indirect ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of an entity, or the power, whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise, to direct the management and policies of that entity.
The first limb is a formal ownership test. The second limb reaches practical control that does not depend on majority ownership, for example through veto rights or a management agreement.
De jure in a sentence
- "The statute ended de jure discrimination, but de facto disparities persisted for decades."
- "She was the de jure owner of the shares, although her brother exercised de facto control of the company."
- "English is the de facto language of business there, even though it has no de jure official status."
How LexDraft helps
When a contract turns on who legally controls, or may act for, a party, LexDraft can review the draft in Microsoft Word and propose tracked-change redlines to definitions such as "Control" or "Affiliate", and explain in the sidebar whether the wording captures formal ownership, practical control or both. For other legal terms, try the free legal jargon translator.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does de jure mean?
De jure is Latin for "by law" or "according to law". It describes something that exists because the law establishes or recognizes it, such as a validly appointed officer or a government holding office under a constitution.
What is the difference between de jure and de facto?
De jure describes what is true according to law; de facto describes what is true in practice. For example, a company's de jure owner holds legal title to the shares, while a de facto controller may run the company without formal ownership.
What is de jure segregation?
In US constitutional law, de jure segregation is segregation caused by law or intentional government action. It includes the school segregation laws invalidated in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), but can also arise from discriminatory school-board policies without such a law. De facto segregation is racial separation without intentional government action to segregate.
What does de jure mean in law?
In law, de jure refers to a status, right or authority that rests on a formal legal source, such as a statute, constitution, court order, corporate record or contract, rather than on actual practice or control.
How do you pronounce de jure?
Common English pronunciations are "day JOOR-ee" and "dee JOOR-ee".
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Get Started with LexDraftFurther Reading
- Wex: De jure (Cornell LII) — Definition and usage of de jure.
- Wex: De facto (Cornell LII) — A short definition of de facto.
- Matter of Hausman, 13 N.Y.3d 408 (2009) — A New York example of the limited de facto entity doctrine and its formation requirements.
- Keyes v. School District No. 1, 413 U.S. 189 (1973) — De jure segregation through intentional school-board action without a segregation statute.
- Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954) — The Supreme Court decision on segregation required by law.