en clair

American

[ahn kler] / ɑ̃ ˈklɛr /

adverb

French.

(especially of diplomatic messages) in ordinary language; not written or sent in code or cipher.

en clair British

/ ɑ̃ klɛr /

adverb

in ordinary language; not in cipher

"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

Etymology

Origin of en clair

Literally, “in clear”

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.

The Russian Ambassador also despatched an urgent message en clair to his Government embodying the contradiction communicated by the Wilhelmstrasse.

From Project Gutenberg

P.S.—The cypher will be better set by the last letter of the word en clair, immediately preceding the cyphered part of the letter.

From Project Gutenberg

I sent off a long telegram in cypher to the Stockholm Legation, making certain inquiries, and a longer one en clair to the British Consul at Gothenburg.

From Project Gutenberg

The cypher may be set by the first letter, which is written en clair, as I in this letter.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023