arrondissement

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

noun

plural

arrondissements 

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

A motorcade of police escorted the 70-year-old from his home in the tony 16th arrondissement to the gates of Paris-La Santé prison in the heart of the French capital.

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I barged in on Romane and Justine, 20-something women having a late lunch at a sidewalk table in the third arrondissement.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Elegantly dressed, he holds a firm, wide stance, hands thrust in pockets, as he looks out over a smart urban intersection from an upper floor of his wealthy family’s new home in Paris’ fashionable 8th arrondissement.

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I’m based in the 11th Arrondissement, which is certainly one of the more pleasant areas.

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The Paris prosecutor's office said the individual was arrested on Tuesday night for buying cocaine in the ninth arrondissement.

Read more on BBC