arrondissement

[ uh-ron-dis-muhnt, ar-uhn-dees-; French a-rawn-dees-mahn ]

noun

, plural ar·ron·disse·ments [uh, -, ron, -dis-m, uh, nts, a, -, r, aw, n, -dees-, mahn].

1. the largest administrative division of a French department, comprising a number of cantons.
2. an administrative district of certain large cities in France.

arrondissement

/ arɔ̃dismɑ̃ /

noun

1. the largest administrative subdivision of a department
2. a municipal district of certain cities, esp Paris

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrondissement¹

1800–10; < French, equivalent to arrondiss- (variant stem of arrondir to round out; a- ⁵, round ¹ ) + -ment -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrondissement¹

C19: from arrondir to make round, from ab- ¹+ -rondir from rond round

Example Sentences

Situated in the city’s posh, sedate 7th Arrondissement, the building has undergone numerous metamorphoses since it was built in the late 1720s.

From The Daily Beast