sans-culotte

[ sanz-kyoo-lot, -koo-; French sahn-ky-lawt ]

/ ˌsænz kyʊˈlɒt, -kʊ-; French sɑ̃ küˈlɔt /

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noun, plural sans-cu·lottes

[sanz-kyoo-lots, -koo-; French sahn-ky-lawt]. /ˌsænz kyʊˈlɒts, -kʊ-; French sɑ̃ küˈlɔt/.

(in the French Revolution) a revolutionary of the poorer class: originally a term of contempt applied by the aristocrats but later adopted as a popular name by the revolutionaries.

any extreme republican or revolutionary.

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Origin of sans-culotte

1780–90; <French: literally, without knee breeches

OTHER WORDS FROM sans-culotte

sans-cu·lot·tic

[sanz-kyoo-lot-ik, -koo-], /ˌsænz kyʊˈlɒt ɪk, -kʊ-/, adjectivesans-cu·lot·tish, adjectivesans-cu·lot·tism, nounsans-cu·lot·tist, noun

Words nearby sans-culotte

San Ramon, San Remo, sans, San Salvador, San Salvador Island, sans-culotte, sans doute, San Sebastián, Sansei, sansevieria, sans gêne

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sans-culotte in a sentence

On the first trip I took photos of Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres, while it was still in early stages.
The Photojournalist Who Stared Down Ebola|Abby Haglage|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The governor, sans tie, wore a dress shirt and casual jacket onto the stage.
In Texas, Cruz, Perry Crow Over GOP Rout|Tim Mak|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The schizo CIA agent is back for more drone warfare and spycraft—this time, sans Brody and his frustratingly emo daughter.
‘Homeland’ Season 4: A Stripped-Down and Surprisingly Badass Return to Form|Marlow Stern|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the summer programming spectrum, it skewed more towards “just plain silly,” sans the “but still curious” modifier.
WGN’s ‘Manhattan’ Is Summer’s Best New Show. But Will Anyone Watch?|Kevin Fallon|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“Technology enables dissent,” the former NSA contractor told the crowd of thousands via video screen, this time sans robot.
Snowden Tells Hackers of the World to Unite|Joshua Kopstein|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ces gens, croy-je, sont les plus grands harangueurs de toute la terre; ils ne font rien sans cela.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Mais il faut premierement batir la Republique, sans laquelle l'Eglise ne peut estre.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Car s voyages precedens il ne s'en est iamais pass vn seul sans mortalit, quoy qu'on fust bien l'aise.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
We should remodel the Government, and teach the sans culottes the hazard of trying the trade of politicians.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Le roi pouvait crer ce duch en sa faveur, sans blesser aucune susceptibilit militaire.
Notes and Queries, Number 177, March 19, 1853|Various

British Dictionary definitions for sans-culotte

sans-culotte

/ (ˌsænzkjʊˈlɒt, French sɑ̃kylɔt) /

noun

(during the French Revolution)

(originally) a revolutionary of the poorer class
(later) any revolutionary, esp one having extreme republican sympathies

any revolutionary extremist

Derived forms of sans-culotte

sans-culottism, nounsans-culottist, noun

Word Origin for sans-culotte

C18: from French, literally: without knee breeches, because the revolutionaries wore pantaloons or trousers rather than knee breeches

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