détente

or de·tente

[dey-tahnt; French dey-tahnt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR détente ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural dé·tentes [dey-tahnts; French dey-tahnt] /deɪˈtɑnts; French deɪˈtɑ̃t/.

a relaxing of tension, especially between nations, as by negotiations or agreements.

Origin of détente

From French, dating back to 1905–10; see origin at detent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for detente

policy, pause, precaution, easement

Examples from the Web for detente

Contemporary Examples of detente

If Obama's strategy is to dial back the blue/red civil war to a detente, Franken's is to escalate it to World War III.
Al Franken is the Right's New Punching Bag
Benjamin Sarlin
January 5, 2009

Historical Examples of detente

The Ambassador quite appreciated that the purpose of the mission was to create a detente, as distinguished from an entente.
New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol. 8, Pt. 2, No. 1, July 1918
Various

British Dictionary definitions for detente

détente

noun

the relaxing or easing of tension, esp between nations

Word Origin for détente

French, literally: a loosening, from Old French destendre to release, from tendre to stretch

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

Word Origin and History for detente

1908 as a political term, a borrowing of French détente "loosening, slackening" (used in the Middle Ages for the catch of a crossbow), from Vulgar Latin detendita, fem. past participle of Latin detendere "loosen, release," from de- "from, away" (see de-) + tendere "stretch" (see tenet). The reference is to a "relaxing" in a political situation. The French word was earlier borrowed as detent (1680s) "catch which regulates the strike in a clock."

detente in Culture

détente

[(day-tahnt)]

A period of lessening tension between two major national powers, or a policy designed to lessen that tension. Détente presupposes that the two powers will continue to disagree but seeks to reduce the occasions of conflict.