cordon sanitaire

cor·don sa·ni·taire | \ kȯr-ˌdōⁿ-sä-nē-ˈter

How to pronounce cordon sanitaire (audio)

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Definition of cordon sanitaire

: a protective barrier (as of buffer states) against a potentially aggressive nation or a dangerous influence (such as an ideology)

Examples of cordon sanitaire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web It was confidently assumed that coffee rust could not cross the cordon sanitaire of the Atlantic. — Maryn Mckenna, The Atlantic, "Coffee Is Under Attack," 16 Sep. 2020 The cordon sanitaire around Eyam was similar to controls imposed by local magistrates on a number of parishes and villages in the 1660s. — 1843, "Eyam revisited: lessons from a plague village," 16 Apr. 2020 The cordon sanitaire that began around Wuhan and two nearby cities on Jan. 23 helped slow the virus’s... — Jeremy Page, WSJ, "China’s Progress Against Coronavirus Used Draconian Tactics Not Deployed in the West," 24 Mar. 2020 Authorities have imposed a cordon sanitaire, limiting movement into and out of the country and between cities and towns, except for those going to work or in emergencies. — Annysa Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Empty streets. Limited movement. Wisconsin native who works in global food program shares harrowing concerns from hard-hit Italy," 20 Mar. 2020 When the Chinese government effectively cut off some 50 million people in Wuhan, the location of the first outbreak, that was most aptly described as a cordon sanitaire. — Katy Steinmetz, Time, "Coronavirus: A Glossary of Terms to Help You Understand the Unfolding Crisis," 9 Mar. 2020 Many analysts have long assumed the CDU’s anti-AfD cordon sanitaire would eventually buckle in one state or another. — The Economist, "The splintering states A pact with the far right in Thuringia rattles German politics," 6 Feb. 2020 Many members of the Saxon CDU, perhaps the country’s most conservative branch, grumble about the cordon sanitaire their leadership has erected around the AfD. — The Economist, "Germany’s ruling parties have escaped electoral disaster," 7 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cordon sanitaire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

30 Sep 2020

Cite this Entry

“Cordon sanitaire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cordon%20sanitaire. Accessed 28 Oct. 2020.

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