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entente cordiale

American  
[ahn-tahnt kawr-dyahl, ahn-tahnt kawr-dyal] / ɑnˈtɑnt kɔrˈdyɑl, ɑ̃ˈtɑ̃t kɔrˈdyal /

noun

  1. a friendly understanding, especially between two or more nations.

entente cordiale British  
/ ɑ̃tɑ̃t kɔrdjal /

noun

  1. a friendly understanding between political powers: less formal than an alliance

  2. (often capitals) the understanding reached by France and Britain in April 1904, which settled outstanding colonial disputes

"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 entente cordiale

Borrowed into English from French around 1835–45

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.

Videos and photos of the entente cordiale, also attended by Congolese Sports Minister Didier Budimbu, were captured by Congolese fans, showing Mboladinga next to Fellak with his new football shirt.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

They want you to swallow, in one savory sitting, their tale of colliding cultures reaching an entente cordiale.

From Time • Aug. 7, 2014

"Watson's French foray lacking in entente cordiale," a headline in the Independent said.

From Golf Digest • Jul. 4, 2011

Only three years ago, nevertheless, Lièvremont labelled the visiting hooker Mark Regan "a clown" following England's win in Paris and seldom gives the impression of being a great believer in entente cordiale.

From The Guardian • Feb. 21, 2011

So St. Cyprian's and Templeton girls might be seen chatting about hockey, and Newington Green discussing the magazine with the Anglo-German, and a general entente cordiale reigned supreme.

From The Girls of St. Cyprian's A Tale of School Life by Brazil, Angela

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.