Library / English Dictionary

RAISON D'ETRE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The purpose that justifies a thing's existence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("raison d'etre" is a kind of...):

function; purpose; role; use (what something is used for)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reason for being

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("raison d'etre" is a kind of...):

rationalisation; rationalization (the cognitive process of making something seem consistent with or based on reason)

Credits