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Richelieu

American  
[rish-uh-loo, reeshuh-lyœ] / ˈrɪʃ əˌlu, riʃəˈlyœ /

noun

  1. Armand Jean du Plessis Duc de, 1585–1642, French cardinal and statesman.

  2. a river in SE Canada, in Quebec, flowing N from Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence. 210 miles (340 km) long.


Richelieu British  
/ riʃəljø, ˈrɪʃəˌljɜː /

noun

  1. Armand Jean du Plessis (armɑ̃ ʒɑ̃ dy plɛsi). 1585–1642, French statesman and cardinal, principal minister to Louis XIII and virtual ruler of France (1624–42). He destroyed the power of the Huguenots and strengthened the crown in France and the role of France in Europe

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Cardinal Richelieu countered encirclement in the 1600s with a masked war of diplomacy to win allies and delay confrontation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

Eventually, they discovered on their intranet system that “Jikji” was locked away in a basement vault in the old Richelieu branch in central Paris.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 7, 2023

It sits in the Salon d’honneur inside the Rue Richelieu entrance.

From New York Times • Oct. 14, 2022

The Académie Française was created in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, and is the official custodian of the French language.

From BBC • May 31, 2022

He said, “That will be the last time in your life when you’re free.” ... of Tremont Street announces that he will keep the famed Richelieu at stud this season.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

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