cordon sanitaire

[ French kawr-dawn sa-nee-ter ]

noun

, plural cor·dons sa·ni·taires [kaw, r, -daw, n, sa-nee-, ter].

1. a line around a quarantined area guarded to prevent the spread of a disease by restricting passage into or out of the area.
2. a group of neighboring, generally neutral states forming a geographical barrier between two states having aggressive military or ideological aims against each other.

cordon sanitaire

/ kɔrdɔ̃ sanitɛr /

noun

1. a guarded line serving to cut off an infected area
2. a line of buffer states, esp when protecting a nation from infiltration or attack

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordon sanitaire¹

From French, dating back to 1840–50; cordon, sanitary

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordon sanitaire¹

C19: literally: sanitary line

Example Sentences

A proposal by President Carranza to draw a cordon sanitaire round the place has not yet reached Washington.

From Project Gutenberg

The plague is raging with unwonted fatality; but no cordon sanitaire is established—no adequate remedy sought.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of the French statesmen occasionally say what is not true (cordon sanitaire); here they conceal the truth.

From Project Gutenberg