Entente
[ahn-TANT]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: French, mid-19th century
1.
A friendly understanding or informal alliance between states or factions.
2.
A group of states in an informal alliance.
Examples of Entente in a sentence
"The Entente Cordiale was the foundation for Anglo-French cooperation in the First World War."
"The opposing leaders have entered into an entente against a bigger enemy."
About Entente
This word stems from the Old French term “entente,” meaning “intent” or “understanding.”
Did you Know?
“Entente” sounds similar to another word associated with 20th-century diplomatic relations —: “détente” — and they can easily be confused with one another. Détente, the relaxation of strained political relations, is often a precursor to entente but not always. For instance, even though Richard Nixon was able to achieve some sense of détente between the Soviet Union and the United States during his presidency, the two countries didn’t enter the kind of alliance that “entente” suggests.
