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

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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 She was given carte blanche to invite a range of guests from across the fashion spectrum, from independent designers to activists. Rhonda Richford, WWD, 16 Sep. 2024 Once Riyadh believed that the carte blanche had been withdrawn, diplomacy became their best option. Trita Parsi, Foreign Affairs, 15 Mar. 2023 Were you given carte blanche and just told to find the best person? Jenelle Riley, Variety, 16 Aug. 2024 That provision, critics assert, handed thieves a de facto carte blanche to plunder beleaguered retail outlets with near impunity. Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 23 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for carte blanche 

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 13 Oct. 2024.

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