volte-face

[ volt-fahs, vohlt-; French vawltuh-fas ]

/ vɒltˈfɑs, voʊlt-; French vɔltəˈfas /

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See synonyms for volte-face on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural volte-face.

a turnabout, especially a reversal of opinion or policy.

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Origin of volte-face

First recorded in 1810–20; from French, from Italian voltafaccia, equivalent to volta turn (see volt²) + faccia face

Words nearby volte-face

voltammeter, voltammetry, volt-ampere, Volta Redonda, volte, volte-face, volti, voltmeter, Volturno, Volturnus, voluble

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

How to use volte-face in a sentence

In that photo, Merabet has a big smile that spreads across his whole face and lights up his eyes.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Cassandra, whose hair has already begun to fall out from her court-mandated chemotherapy, could face a similar outcome.
Should Teens Have The Right To Die?|Brandy Zadrozny|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They know they will face either a swift backlash or deafening silence.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers|Stereo Williams|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They are to face oppression with humble persistence and absolute conviction.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

She narrowed her eyes, bit her lip as if to chew over the question, and whisked some stray blond hairs away from her face.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is most peculiar, and when he plays that way, the most bewitching little expression comes over his face.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Bernard stood there face to face with Mrs. Vivian, whose eyes seemed to plead with him more than ever.
Confidence|Henry James
A Yankee, whose face had been mauled in a pot-house brawl, assured General Jackson that he had received his scars in battle.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
With a suffocating gasp, she fell back into the chair on which she sat, and covered her face with her hands.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Joe looked at her with a smile, his face still solemn and serious for all its youth and the fires of new-lit hope behind his eyes.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden

British Dictionary definitions for volte-face

volte-face

/ (ˈvɒltˈfɑːs) /

noun plural volte-face

a reversal, as in opinion or policy

a change of position so as to look, lie, etc, in the opposite direction

Word Origin for volte-face

C19: from French, from Italian volta-faccia, from volta a turn + faccia face

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

volte-face

Origin of volte-face

Words nearby volte-face

Words related to volte-face

How to use volte-face in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for volte-face

Word Origin for volte-face