contretemps

American  

[kon-truh-tahn, kawntr^uh-tahn] / ˈkɒn trəˌtɑ̃, kɔ̃trəˈtɑ̃ /

noun

contretemps plural

1. an inopportune occurrence; an embarrassing mischance.

   He caused a minor contretemps by knocking over his drink.

---

contretemps British  

/ kɔ̃trətɑ̃, ˈkɒntrəˌtɑːn /

noun

1. an awkward or difficult situation or mishap

2. fencing a feint made with the purpose of producing a counterthrust from one's opponent

3. a small disagreement that is rather embarrassing

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• contretemps
  plural

Etymology

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

Explanation

A contretemps is a badly-timed event or an embarrassing situation. Did you see the outfielders run into each other and the shortstop slip and fall in the mud? Don't laugh — we all have our contretemps. The word contretemps, pronounced "CON-tre-tahn," is French — contre means "against" and temps means "time." A mishap, perhaps caused by bad timing, is one kind of contretemps. Another is an argument or conflict, especially an awkward one. A contretemps can result from a misunderstanding or miscommunication. It's also a term for a blunder in both ballet and fencing.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

contretemps

Now comes this week’s contretemps over the “Late Show” cancellation of a broadcast interview with Talarico.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 18, 2026

However, as has been seen in recent years, the inherent clash of personalities there does break out into the open sometimes, especially when they have an on-track contretemps.

From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2024

Innocently hang a flag the wrong way — or hang the wrong flag — and what was supposed to be a celebration can become a diplomatic contretemps.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2024

When Mr. Wicker and some colleagues threatened to resign, Mr. Sulzberger withdrew the proposed appointment, and the widely publicized contretemps ended with bruised feelings all around.

From New York Times ● May 20, 2024

His specific reference was to a contretemps in August 1943 over Rossi Lomanitz, a twenty-one-year-old Rad Lab physicist who was valued as a protege by both Lawrence and Oppenheimer.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik