détente
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of détente
First recorded in 1905–10; from French; see origin at detent
Explanation
When opposing countries reach an understanding or truce, that's detente, meaning a loosening of tensions. If two nations are having problems, such as disagreements over trade, or even the threat of war, and then they become friendlier to each other, they've reached a state of detente. Detente is a relaxing of tension: diplomacy is working and the countries are on the path of peace rather than the road to war. If you always argue with your sibling, and then you start getting along better, you could humorously say that you've reached a detente.
Vocabulary lists containing detente
Olympics Vocabulary for Champions
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English Words Derived from French, List 9
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American History - Middle School
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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.
That, combined with a likely temporary trade détente with China, may be all the markets need to assume any new tariff storms can be weathered in the year ahead.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025
While valuations are getting stretched, Gavekal analyst Thomas Gatley says the stock market could rise further if the U.S. and China find another détente that keeps tariffs from spiraling into three-digit territory.
From Barron's • Oct. 23, 2025
The US and China have been in a fragile trade détente since May, when the two sides agreed to drop triple-digit tariffs on each others' goods that had nearly stopped trade between the two countries.
From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025
After more than 20 rancorous years apart, a rerelease of the Talking Heads classic 1983 concert film “Stop Making Sense” has brought détente, and maybe more.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2025
Eventually, after some speech making about the contribution of chess toward a possible détente between the Soviet Union and the United States, play got under way.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
