plural cartes blanches ˈkärt(s)-ˈblänch How to pronounce carte blanche (audio) -ˈbläⁿsh How to pronounce carte blanche (audio)
: 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 Her carte blanche curation begins with what looks like a blank canvas crumpled into a sculpture. Amy Verner, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 In turn, strengthening the argument regarding cinematic representation and who should be allowed to play LGBTQ+ characters in an industry seemingly obsessed with the power of celebrity bestows carte blanche upon heterosexual actors whose affiliation attracts financing. Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 11 Jan. 2024 Britney Spears, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera at the 2003 MTV VMAs | Credit: Kevin Kane/WireImage Madonna was given carte blanche for her performance opening the annual MTV Video Music Awards, scheduled for Aug. 28. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 23 Aug. 2023 Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said the council had limited the extension to 90 days because some members were uneasy giving Bowser carte blanche to circumvent procurement rules and other extraordinary powers afforded under a public emergency. Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2024 All of this takes place under Section 230’s liability shield, which effectively gives tech companies carte blanche for a short-sighted version of self-serving behavior. Jaron Lanier, WIRED, 13 Feb. 2024 At its July summit, NATO will have to determine how to prevent Russia from continually threatening Ukraine in the long term, a scenario that would in turn give Moscow carte blanche to foment perpetual instability in Europe. Alina Polyakova, Foreign Affairs, 1 Feb. 2024 On February 9, the Aquarius New Moon squaring Uranus gives you carte blanche to disrupt your personal narrative and write a different story for yourself. Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2024 Tech companies worth billions of dollars shouldn’t be given carte blanche to steal original content built from billions of dollars of news-industry investments. Danielle Coffey, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carte blanche.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, blank document

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carte blanche was in 1751

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Dictionary Entries Near carte blanche

Cite this Entry

“Carte blanche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carte%20blanche. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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