contretemps
Americannoun
noun
-
an awkward or difficult situation or mishap
-
fencing a feint made with the purpose of producing a counterthrust from one's opponent
-
a small disagreement that is rather embarrassing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of contretemps
1675–85; < French, equivalent to contre- counter- + temps time (< Latin tempus ); perhaps alteration (by folk etymology) of Middle French contrestant, present participle of contrester to oppose; see contrast
Explanation
A contretemps is a badly-timed event or an embarrassing situation. Did you see the outfielders run into each other and the shortstop slip and fall in the mud? Don't laugh — we all have our contretemps. The word contretemps, pronounced "CON-tre-tahn," is French — contre means "against" and temps means "time." A mishap, perhaps caused by bad timing, is one kind of contretemps. Another is an argument or conflict, especially an awkward one. A contretemps can result from a misunderstanding or miscommunication. It's also a term for a blunder in both ballet and fencing.
Vocabulary lists containing contretemps
It's About Time: Chron and Temp
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A Separate Peace
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These two ladies seem far too alike not to arrive at a contretemps, which they quickly do.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025
Aston Villa team-mates Anwar El Ghazi and Tyrone Mings' contretemps came in a goalless draw with West Ham.
From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025
Innocently hang a flag the wrong way — or hang the wrong flag — and what was supposed to be a celebration can become a diplomatic contretemps.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2024
Aside from one episode in which he threw a rubber chicken at a persistent questioner, he coolly conveyed at press briefings the sensitivity of the diplomatic contretemps.
From New York Times • May 12, 2023
At the time of the crossroad contretemps, Eugene Hammond of the newly organized Overland Automobile Company of Terre Haute was the motorneer at the wheel of the car.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
