Legal Definitions - fait

Fait refers to an act or deed; something that has been done or accomplished. It describes an action that has taken place.

The related term, fait accompli, means "an accomplished deed." This phrase is often used to describe an action that is already completed and irreversible, making further discussion or opposition largely pointless.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a "fait":

• Imagine a homeowner deciding to paint their house a new color. The act of applying the paint to the walls is a fait. Once the painting is complete, the house has undergone a visible change due to this action.

  This illustrates "fait" because the painting is a concrete action or deed performed by the homeowner.

• In a business context, when a company's board of directors votes to approve a new strategic plan, the casting of their votes and the subsequent official endorsement of the plan constitute a fait.

  Here, the board members' actions of voting and formally approving the plan are distinct deeds that have been performed, fitting the definition of "fait."

• Consider a student completing a challenging research paper. The act of writing, researching, and submitting the paper is a series of faits that culminate in the final submission.

  Each step, from research to writing to submission, represents an action or deed undertaken by the student, making them "faits."