ex post facto
1 of 2adverb
ex post fac·to ˌeks-ˌpōs(t)-ˈfak-(ˌ)tō 
: after the fact : retroactively
ex post facto
2 of 2adjective
: done, made, or formulated after the fact : retroactive
ex post facto approval
ex post facto laws
Did you know?
Ex post facto is Latin for "from a thing done afterward". Approval for a project that's given ex post facto—after the project already has been begun or completed—may just have been given in order to save face. An ex post facto law is one that declares someone's action to be criminal only after it was committed--a procedure forbidden by our Constitution.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Bruce Vielmetti, Journal Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2022 Conyers argued that using the amendment in her case violated the ex post facto law outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 10 June 2022 Most sophisticated financial services firms already have an existing data model—typically used for ex post facto data extraction—which is loaded into Arteria. Tom Davenport, Forbes, 17 May 2022 Right now, verification technology is ex post facto, generating reports for the marketer once their campaign has already run. Alok Choudhary, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2022 This process is meant to focus regulators’ efforts on large rather than small transactions, in addition to giving companies some assurance that their deal won’t be upended ex post facto. Rachel Chiu, National Review, 25 Oct. 2021 According to the International Carbon Action Partnership, an intergovernmental climate-policy monitoring group, the nominal cap will be adjusted ex post facto based on actual power-production levels. Jordan Mcgillis, National Review, 30 Aug. 2021 Facing facts and eschewing euphemisms, the U of L coach spent much of his post-season media de-briefing managing expectations on an ex post facto basis. Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, 15 Mar. 2021 So many shows rely on studio interviews or guests recapping their adventures ex post facto — the equivalent of Aunt Jane prattling on about her trip to Tuscany over the phone. Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2020 See More
Adjective
Under that analysis, the plaintiff argued, a town could force out people with past convictions by imposing new penalties triggered by even passive or innocuous current acts without worry of running afoul of the ex post facto clause. Bruce Vielmetti, Journal Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2022 Conyers argued that using the amendment in her case violated the ex post facto law outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 10 June 2022 Most sophisticated financial services firms already have an existing data model—typically used for ex post facto data extraction—which is loaded into Arteria. Tom Davenport, Forbes, 17 May 2022 Right now, verification technology is ex post facto, generating reports for the marketer once their campaign has already run. Alok Choudhary, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2022 This process is meant to focus regulators’ efforts on large rather than small transactions, in addition to giving companies some assurance that their deal won’t be upended ex post facto. Rachel Chiu, National Review, 25 Oct. 2021 According to the International Carbon Action Partnership, an intergovernmental climate-policy monitoring group, the nominal cap will be adjusted ex post facto based on actual power-production levels. Jordan Mcgillis, National Review, 30 Aug. 2021 Facing facts and eschewing euphemisms, the U of L coach spent much of his post-season media de-briefing managing expectations on an ex post facto basis. Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, 15 Mar. 2021 So many shows rely on studio interviews or guests recapping their adventures ex post facto — the equivalent of Aunt Jane prattling on about her trip to Tuscany over the phone. Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Adverb
Late Latin, literally, from a thing done afterward
First Known Use
Adverb
1621, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1787, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
ex post facto 1 of 2
adverb
ˈeks-ˌpōst-ˈfak-tō
: after the fact : retroactively
cannot judge ex post facto
ex post facto
2 of 2adjective
1
: done, made, or formulated after the fact : retroactive
2
: of or relating to an ex post facto law
the chief concerns of the ex post facto ban L. H. Tribe
L. H. Tribe