contretemps

[ kon-truh-tahn; French kawntruh-tahn ]

See synonyms for contretemps on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural con·tre·temps

[kon-truh-tahnz; French kawntruh-tahn]. /ˈkɒn trəˌtɑ̃z; French kɔ̃trəˈtɑ̃/.

an inopportune occurrence; an embarrassing mischance: He caused a minor contretemps by knocking over his drink.

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

Words Nearby contretemps

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use contretemps in a sentence

Despite the ongoing brutal contretemps, there’s still love, and some laughs, between them.
Exploring a complicated father-daughter relationship | Patrick Folliard | November 7, 2021 | Washington Blade
That seemed like it was the end of the matter but then new life was breathed into the contretemps on Monday.
A Cuomo-Christie Proxy War? | Ben Jacobs | December 3, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The contretemps escalated during a commercial break when Khrushchev was handed a note by one of his advisers.
Nikita Khrushchev, Talk Show Guest | Stephen Battaglio | November 20, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Carter reveals that Jay made weird, borderline mentorly calls to Kimmel long before the Conan contretemps began.
Secrets of the Late Night War | Bryan Curtis | November 8, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
She also said that she did not see the latest contretemps between Lindsay and her father as a “controversy.”
Lindsay Lohan's Daddy Issues | Nicole LaPorte | April 29, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST

Publishing contretemps aside, Zemeckis said she has no intention of curbing the growth of the Staar empire.
A Hollywood Wife's Sexy Alter-Ego | Nicole LaPorte | April 20, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
A serious contretemps has occurred which will affect you both if you do not leave immediately on receipt of this.
The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le Queux
Bradish was pretty familiar with the phases and the oddities of the dancing craze, but this contretemps rather staggered him.
Blow The Man Down | Holman Day
This little contretemps somewhat dashed their spirits, but they proceeded nevertheless to the fortune-teller's in their cab.
Court Beauties of Old Whitehall | W. R. H. Trowbridge
"All Monte Carlo seems to be gossiping about that little contretemps," Draconmeyer continued.
Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo | E. Phillips Oppenheim
This contretemps, however, is avoided by placing wet weeds on the eggs and by the general moisture of the nest.
A Bird Calendar for Northern India | Douglas Dewar

British Dictionary definitions for contretemps

contretemps

/ (ˈkɒntrəˌtɑːn, French kɔ̃trətɑ̃) /

nounplural -temps

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

Origin of contretemps

C17: from French, from contre against + temps time, from Latin tempus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse