détente

or de·tente

[ dey-tahnt; French dey-tahnt ]
See synonyms for détente on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural dé·tentes [dey-tahnts; French dey-tahnt]. /deɪˈtɑnts; French deɪˈtɑ̃t/.
  1. a relaxing of tension, especially between nations, as by negotiations or agreements.

Origin of détente

1
First recorded in 1905–10; from French; see origin at detent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for détente

détente

/ (deɪˈtɑːnt, French detɑ̃t) /


noun
  1. the relaxing or easing of tension, esp between nations

Origin of détente

1
French, literally: a loosening, from Old French destendre to release, from tendre to stretch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for détente

détente

[ (day-tahnt) ]


A period of lessening tension between two major national powers, or a policy designed to lessen that tension. Détente presupposes that the two powers will continue to disagree but seeks to reduce the occasions of conflict.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.