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de Gaulle

American  
[duh gohl, gawl] / də ˈgoʊl, ˈgɔl /

noun

  1. Charles André Joseph Marie 1890–1970, French general and statesman: president 1959–69.


de Gaulle British  
/ də ɡol /

noun

  1. Charles ( André Joseph Marie ) (ʃarl). 1890–1970, French general and statesman. During World War II, he refused to accept Pétain's armistice with Germany and founded the Free French movement in England (1940). He was head of the provisional governments (1944–46) and, as first president of the Fifth Republic (1959–69), he restored political and economic stability to France

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Would anyone have said that Franklin D. Roosevelt was being manipulated by Charles de Gaulle?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron also said he had ordered the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier group to deploy to the eastern Mediterranean to help protect Cyprus.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

Described by officials as the most significant change in French strategic thinking since 1960, "advanced deterrence" nonetheless retains much of the original concept as defined by then-President Charles de Gaulle.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

"The drone was neutralised away from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and in no way was the security of the aircraft carrier and its group threatened by this".

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

I met my father's plane at Charles de Gaulle, and as we were walking toward the taxi stand, a bag of peanuts fell from the pouch of his suitcase.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris