raison d'être

American  

[rey-zohn de-truh, re-zawn de-tr^uh] / ˈreɪ zoʊn ˈdɛ trə, rɛ zɔ̃ ˈdɛ trə /

noun

plural

raisons d'être

1. reason or justification for being or existence.

   Art is the artist's raison d'être.

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raison d'être British  

/ rɛzɔ̃ dɛtrə /

noun

1. reason or justification for existence

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raison d'être Cultural  

1. A basic, essential purpose; a reason to exist: “Professor Naylor argues that in the nuclear age, infantry forces have lost their raison d'être.” From French, meaning “reason for being.”

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Etymology

Origin of raison d'être

Borrowed into English from French around 1865–70

Example Sentences

The raison d’être for all things art-related happening here in late February.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

But, for smaller companies whose AI offerings are their raison d’être, there are pros and cons of the new era.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

Unrestrained power, of course, is the president’s raison d’être.

From Salon • Sep. 27, 2025

Fundamentally, the format's raison d'être is now under question.

From BBC • Jul. 18, 2025

As there was no new ground to explore, and as the eating of lunch seemed to be the raison d’être of the excursion, it was plainly foolish to start until the luncheon hour approached.

From Lady Cassandra by Vaizey, George de Horne, Mrs.