éminence grise

American  

[ey-mee-nahns greez] / eɪ mi nɑ̃s ˈgriz /

noun

plural

éminences grises

1. gray eminence.

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éminence grise British  

/ eminɑ̃s ɡriz /

noun

1. a person who wields power and influence unofficially or behind the scenes

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éminence grise Cultural  

1. A person who wields power behind the scenes: “The king's brother-in-law is his éminence grise; he has enormous influence, though he is rarely in the public eye.” A French term meaning “gray eminence.”

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Usage

What does éminence grise mean? Éminence grise is a term for a person who wields power in an unofficial capacity or who influences things behind the scenes, mostly or completely out of public view. The term is usually used in the context of politics and is typically applied to someone who wields power through another person who holds an official position. The term often implies that the éminence grise is doing this secretly or in an unauthorized or otherwise shadowy way. The term is most often applied by the media or by those who are critical of such influence. Éminence grise comes from French and literally translates to “gray eminence,” which can be used as a synonym, though this is less common. (The spelling grey eminence is also used.)The plural of éminence grise is éminences grises. Example: The press is calling him an éminence grise and implying that he is the one orchestrating things behind the scenes.

Etymology

Origin of éminence grise

From French

Example Sentences

“It feels more historic,” Peter Baker, the New York Times’ éminence grise of presidential coverage, said recently of Trump’s forays into international affairs.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026

She manages to land a job as assistant to a literary agent named Edith Safer, “of the old school,” the very model of an éminence grise.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2023

For the inaugural exhibition, Superblue included “AKHU” by James Turrell, the Southern Californian who is an éminence grise of the experiential art world.

From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2021

Multiple experts praised his skill — Dr. Walter Straus, an associate vice president at the drug company Merck & Co., said Whitley is an "éminence grise" in pediatrics whom people trust.

From Salon • Sep. 26, 2020

Although he may have always been described as the enfant terrible of fashion, today Gaultier is one the industry’s éminence grise.

From The Guardian • Jan. 23, 2020