détente
or de·tente
[ dey-tahnt; French dey-tahnt ]
/ deɪˈtɑnt; French deɪˈtɑ̃t /
noun, plural dé·tentes [dey-tahnts; French dey-tahnt] /deɪˈtɑnts; French deɪˈtɑ̃t/.
a relaxing of tension, especially between nations, as by negotiations or agreements.
Origin of détente
From French, dating back to 1905–10; see origin at
detent
Words nearby détente
démenti,
démodé,
dénouement,
dépanneur,
département,
détente,
día de los muertos,
díaz,
díaz de bivar,
díaz de vivar,
díaz del castillo
Example sentences from the Web for detente
If Obama's strategy is to dial back the blue/red civil war to a detente, Franken's is to escalate it to World War III.
The Ambassador quite appreciated that the purpose of the mission was to create a detente, as distinguished from an entente.
British Dictionary definitions for detente
détente
/ (deɪˈtɑːnt, French detɑ̃t) /
noun
the relaxing or easing of tension, esp between nations
Word Origin for détente
French, literally: a loosening, from Old French
destendre to release, from
tendre to stretch
Cultural definitions for detente
détente
[ (day-tahnt) ]
A period of lessening tension between two major national powers, or a policy designed to lessen that tension. Détente presupposes that the two powers will continue to disagree but seeks to reduce the occasions of conflict.