détente

or de·tente

[ dey-tahnt; French dey-tahnt ]

noun

, plural dé·tentes [dey-, tahnts, dey-, tahnt].

1. a relaxing of tension, especially between nations, as by negotiations or agreements.

détente

/ deɪˈtɑːnt; detɑ̃t /

noun

1. the relaxing or easing of tension, esp between nations

détente

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of détente¹

First recorded in 1905–10; from French; detent

Word History and Origins

Origin of détente¹

French, literally: a loosening, from Old French destendre to release, from tendre to stretch

Example Sentences

When they overlapped in office, Trump and former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador came to an unexpected detente.

From Los Angeles Times

An ongoing broader border dispute, intensifying bilateral competition across South Asia and in the Indian Ocean region, and China’s close alliance with Pakistan rule out the possibility of a détente anytime soon.

From BBC

And, despite talk of detente, Iran and Saudi Arabia have long been regional rivals.

From BBC

Painter indicated that he thought the detente between Kemp and Trump would last through Election Day, a reading of the situation shared by Stuart Gerson, an assistant attorney general who served under former President George H.W.

From Salon

The Walt Disney Co.’s proposal for a partial, temporary detente as the blackout of its channels on DirecTV and U-Verse stretches into its 10th day has devolved into another round of bickering.

From Los Angeles Times