entente cordiale
Americannoun
noun
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a friendly understanding between political powers: less formal than an alliance
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(often capitals) the understanding reached by France and Britain in April 1904, which settled outstanding colonial disputes
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
I hope I won't ruin our new entente cordiale by observing that, sitting opposite him, I suddenly missed my grandfather.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 2, 2011
We established an entente cordiale with France our hereditary foe, thank goodness, and we succeeded because many of us are bad at French and consequently unable to insult the French people.
From Over Here Impressions of America by a British officer by Hector MacQuarrie
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.
