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détente

or de·tente

[ dey-tahnt; French dey-tahnt ]
/ deɪˈtɑnt; French deɪˈtɑ̃t /
SEE 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.

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Origin of détente

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

Words nearby détente

démenti, démodé, dénouement, dépanneur, département, détente, día de los muertos, díaz, díaz de bivar, díaz de vivar, díaz del castillo
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to detente

policy, pause, precaution, easement

Example sentences from the Web for detente

British Dictionary definitions for detente

détente
/ (deɪˈtɑːnt, French detɑ̃t) /

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

Cultural definitions for detente

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.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.