détente

or de·tente

[ dey-tahnt; French dey-tahnt ]

/ deɪˈtɑnt; French deɪˈtɑ̃t /

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.

RELATED WORDS

policy, pause, precaution, easement

Nearby words

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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

/ (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

Word Origin and History for detente

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."

Culture 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.