Ardennes

American  

[ahr-den, ar-den] / ɑrˈdɛn, arˈdɛn /

noun

1. Forest of Ardennes, a wooded plateau region in western Europe, in northeastern France, southeastern Belgium, and Luxembourg: World War I battle 1914; World War II battle 1944–45.

2. a department in northeastern France. 2,028 sq. mi. (5,255 sq. km). Mézières.

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Ardennes British  

/ ardɛn, ɑːˈdɛn /

noun

1. a department of NE France, in Champagne-Ardenne region. Capital: Mézières. Pop: 288 806 (2003 est). Area: 5253 sq km (2049 sq miles)

2. a wooded plateau in SE Belgium, Luxembourg, and NE France: scene of heavy fighting in both World Wars

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Example Sentences

The Belgian hopes to compete in the three Ardennes classics and the Tour de Romandie in preparation for this year's Tour de France.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2025

Hall’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Ardennes American Cemetery, France, along with others still missing from WWII.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 27, 2023

Some areas of the Ardennes Forest have also been altered by logging in the years after the battle, meaning certain pieces of evidence may be lost forever.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 14, 2023

The bomber — nicknamed “Move Over Mabel” — had just dropped its payload over the Ardennes region when it was hit by German antiaircraft artillery about 9,000 feet in the air, Arrieta said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2023

That fall, the SS-HJ were reorganized and sent to the Ardennes forest in France, where the Germans launched their last major offensive.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti