entente
Americannoun
-
ententes
plural
-
an arrangement or understanding between two or more nations agreeing to follow a particular policy with regard to affairs of international concern.
- Synonyms:
- rapprochement, accord, agreement
-
an alliance of parties to such an understanding.
noun
-
short for entente cordiale
-
the parties to an entente cordiale collectively
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of entente
1830–45; < French: understanding, Old French: intention, noun use of feminine of entent, past participle of entendre to intend
Explanation
When two countries agree to help each other out in the event of a war or other crisis, that's an entente. The political term entente derives from the French éntente, or "understanding." Nations reach an entente when they come to an informal understanding that they'll join forces if necessary. This usually happens when the threat of war is looming. Even though ententes aren't formal treaties, they're usually enough to prevent a more powerful state from starting a war against the cooperating countries.
Vocabulary lists containing entente
World War I
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National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 3
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Chapter 24: Imperialism and World War I
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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.
See Examples For:
On the surface, they entail a diplomatic entente among nations, while at a deeper level they entwine themselves within the cultures, commerce and values of countless societies.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2024
Her successor, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, visited France in March to kick off what he called an "entente renewed".
From Reuters ● Sep. 19, 2023
On Monday, after an entente negotiated among the co-curators, students, faculty, and members of the Ukrainian and Cooper Union communities, Cooper Union announced that it was reinstating the show.
From New York Times ● Feb. 7, 2023
The effort seeks to build on multilateral efforts such as the Abraham Accords, the regional entente between the state of Israel and several of its regional Muslim neighbors.
From Washington Times ● May 24, 2022
When that fail he make straight for his last resource—his last earth-work I might say did I wish double entente.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
And when he spoke the familiar phrases about shared sacrifices, and common values, and ententes, it mattered not a jot that the phrases were familiar and overworked.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2023
"He is not getting what he wants from the other side," Sager added, saying Saudi Arabia's ententes with regional foes were based on Riyadh's approach to regional security.
From Reuters ● May 24, 2023
Here is how ententes in the region are playing out.
From Reuters ● Apr. 6, 2023
"As ententes go this was not madly cordiale," says Independent sketch writer Donald Macintyre.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2014
We were not to be made a buffer between alliances and ententes.
From From Isolation to Leadership, Revised A Review of American Foreign Policy by John Holladay Latane
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.
