Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A relaxing or easing, as of tension between rivals.
  • noun A policy toward a rival nation or bloc characterized by increased diplomatic, commercial, and cultural contact and a desire to reduce tensions, as through negotiation or talks.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A relaxing of tension between major powers, especially the particular thawing of relations between the Soviet Union and the United States following the Cold War.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French; see detent.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Borrowing from French détente, meaning “relaxing”.

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Examples

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Comments

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  • Can't forget about Nixon's foreign policy when mentioning this word.

    June 12, 2008