tour de force

American  

[toor duh fawrs, -fohrs, toor duh fawrs] / ˌtʊər də ˈfɔrs, -ˈfoʊrs, tur də ˈfɔrs /

noun

tours de force plural

1. an exceptional achievement by an artist, author, or the like, that is unlikely to be equaled by that person or anyone else; stroke of genius.

   Herman Melville's Moby Dick was a tour de force.

2. a particularly adroit maneuver or technique in handling a difficult situation.

   The way the president got his bill through the Senate was a tour de force.

3. a feat requiring unusual strength, skill, or ingenuity.

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tour de force British  

/ ˈtʊə də ˈfɔːs, tur də fɔrs /

noun

1. a masterly or brilliant stroke, creation, effect, or accomplishment

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tour de force Cultural  

1. A feat accomplished through great skill and ability: “The speech was a tour de force; it swept the audience off its feet.”

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tours de force
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tour de force

1795–1805; < French: feat of strength or skill

Example Sentences

Local residents have turned out in force to resist the gargantuan installations — and their political leaders are listening.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

In the recent past, institutional investors have often come out in force to buy U.S. debt when the 30-year Treasury yield has reached 5%.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

Similar clips of costumed moviegoers transforming theaters into discothèques spread across Instagram and TikTok as Jackson fans turned out in force to see parts of the star’s life re-enacted on the big screen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Already, though, protesters are out in force across the state.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

Again the young people were out in force.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt