pièce de résistance

[ pyes duh rey-zee-stahns; English pee-es duh ri-zee-stahns ]

noun

, French.

, plural pièces de ré·sis·tance [pyes d, uh, , r, ey-zee-, stahns, pee-, es, d, uh, ri-zee-, stahns].

1. the principal dish of a meal.
2. the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction.

pièce de résistance

/ pjɛs də rezistɑ̃s /

noun

1. the principal or most outstanding item in a series or creative artist's work
2. the main dish of a meal

Word History and Origins

Origin of pièce de résistance¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from French: literally, “piece of resistance”; development of senses is unclear

Word History and Origins

Origin of pièce de résistance¹

lit: piece of resistance

Example Sentences

“To see a portfolio of this caliber [makes it] the pièce de résistance of the collection,” Jaffe said.

From The Daily Beast

But the pièce de résistance may well be a new “breakfast drink.”

From The Daily Beast

But perhaps the best way to read the Bush memoir is as the elusive pièce de résistance of the most loyal Bush scrivener.

From The Daily Beast

Then comes what I call the pièce de résistance, but which my uncle called 'killing two birds with one stone.'

From Project Gutenberg

In the Commons the trouble on the Clyde was the pièce de résistance.

From Project Gutenberg

The sweetmeats or hors d'oeuvre of the older caterings for that taste are here collected together to form a pièce de résistance.

From Project Gutenberg

But the pièce de résistance of the Sixth was the Pageant of Empire at the end.

From Project Gutenberg

But the pièce de résistance of the day was to be the examination and probable committal of the Obeah-man of those parts.

From Project Gutenberg