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
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'raison d'être.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Raison d'être.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raison%20d%27%C3%AAtre. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
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