carte blanche

noun

ˈkärt-ˈblänch  -ˈbläⁿsh 

plural cartes blanches ˈkärt(s)-ˈblänch  -ˈbläⁿsh 

: full discretionary (see discretion sense 1a) power

was given carte blanche to furnish the house

Did you know?

Carte blanche is much like a blank check. In French, carte means "document" and blanche means "blank," so the phrase means "blank document." English retained that literal meaning: a carte blanche was a blank document signed in advance by one party and given to the other with permission to fill in conditions later. Much like blank check, carte blanche also took on the extended meaning "complete freedom."

Examples of carte blanche in a Sentence

We gave the decorator carte blanche to furnish the house.

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the years, many of these groups have operated with a carte blanche from local authorities. —Tess Owen, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2024

But giving the converts carte blanche over the party’s legislative agenda won’t fly either. ... —Henry Olsen, National Review, 21 Nov. 2024

Trump will give Netanyahu carte blanche to prosecute the wars against Hamas and Hezbollah with even fewer guardrails. —Newsweek Staff, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024

But here was an opportunity to basically have carte blanche. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, blank document

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined above

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