raison d'être

noun

rai·​son d'être ˌrā-ˌzōⁿ-ˈde-trə 

-ˈdetrᵊ

variants or less commonly raison d'etre

plural raisons d'être also raisons d'etre ˌrā-ˌzōⁿz-ˈde-trə 

-ˈdetrᵊ

: reason or justification for existence

Examples of raison d'être in a Sentence

Art is his raison d'être.

Recent Examples on the Web

Much like The Dead, P-Funk Connection performs without its primary personality and raison d'etre, funk-legend George Clinton. —Joshua Medintz, The Enquirer, 14 July 2023

A lot of lore is wrapped up in the Chanel Camellia surrounding its raison d'etre as the flower Coco preferred. —Roxanne Robinson, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023

The entire raison d'etre for digital customer service is to resolve an issue, place an order or complete a transaction in a way that’s faster than an in-person experience and in a manner that’s as effortless as possible for both the consumer and company. —Chetan Dube, Forbes, 27 May 2022

That was his raison d'etre. —Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, 23 Nov. 2020

The system-builders only have small niches across the sub-domains, with the exception of evolutionary biology where the system is the raison d'etre of the field. —Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 24 June 2010

Yet the whole raison d'etre of QRPs is making data 'better' for publication. —Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2014

The former's raison d'etre while alive and legacy going forward is all about fear, punishment, repression and ancient cruelties. —Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above