Marseillaise

American  

[mahr-suh-leyz, -sey-ez, mar-se-yez] / ˌmɑr səˈleɪz, -seɪˈɛz, mar sɛˈyɛz /

noun

1. the French national anthem, written in 1792 by Rouget de Lisle.

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Marseillaise British  

/ marsɛjɛz, ˌmɑːsəˈleɪz /

noun

1. the French national anthem. Words and music were composed in 1792 by C. J. Rouget de Lisle as a war song for the Rhine army of revolutionary France

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Etymology

Origin of Marseillaise

C18: from French ( chanson ) Marseillaise song of Marseille (it was first sung in Paris by the battalion of Marseille)

Example Sentences

There was a performance of the sixth verse of La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, as it was deemed to be more universal and less patriotic.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

The 29-year-old, who had won gold in the mixed relay on Sunday, cried as the Marseillaise rang out at the medals ceremony, her gold elevating her to being France's greatest ever woman biathlete.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

“Toussaint Louverture’s soldiers sang the Marseillaise in front of the French troops who had come to restore servitude,” he said.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

The mood became intimidating when some sections of the crowd jeered the French national anthem, La Marseillaise.

From Fox News • Jun. 19, 2021

He beheld barricades in the streets of St. Petersburg, Moscow, Odessa; he saw the red flag waving; he heard the Marseillaise.

From The White Terror and The Red A novel of revolutionary Russia by Cahan, Abraham