Arc de Triomphe

American  

[ark duh tree-awnf] / ark də triˈɔ̃f /

noun

1. an arch, located in Paris, begun in 1806 by Napoleon in honor of his victorious armies and completed in 1836. The unknown soldier of France and an eternal flame were placed beneath the arch after World War I.

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Arc de Triomphe British  

/ ark də trijɔ̃f, ˈɑːk də ˈtriːəʊmf /

noun

1. the triumphal arch in Paris begun by Napoleon I to commemorate his victories of 1805–6 and completed in 1836

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Etymology

Origin of Arc de Triomphe

First recorded in 1810–20; from French: “arch of triumph”

Example Sentences

Trump’s proposed arch would be more than 50 feet taller than the North Korean arch, which is itself 33 feet taller than the Arc de Triomphe.

From Salon • May 3, 2026

Trump has also proposed building an enormous, 250-foot tall "Independence Arch" -- reminiscent of Paris' Arc de Triomphe -- on the bank of the Potomac River near the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The magnificent proposed structure is reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and will celebrate America’s semiquincentennial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

Its monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025

I pose next to a street sign, Champs-Elysées, and then run along the street, the Arc de Triomphe as my destination.

From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson