pièce de résistance

noun

pièce de ré·​sis·​tance pē-ˌes-də-rə-ˌzē-ˈstän(t)s 

-rā-, 

-ˈstäⁿs

plural pièces de résistance pē-ˌes-də-rə-ˌzē-ˈstän(t)s 

-rā-, 

-ˈstäⁿs

1

: the chief dish of a meal

2

: an outstanding item or event : showpiece

Examples of pièce de résistance in a Sentence

The pièce de résistance of the whole concert was when the two bands came onstage to perform together.

The waiter suggested we try the restaurant's pièce de résistance: the chocolate soufflé.

Recent Examples on the Web

Pele, Gerson and Jairzinho all scored for the team in yellow before Carlos Alberto’s piece de resistance. — Will Jeanes, New York Times, 20 June 2026

The piece de resistance of the display is a 390-square-foot exhibit that features all the times Epstein and Trump were together. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2026

Soak in the piece de resistance—the hamam bath. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026

Grab ice cream by one, two or three scoops or throw caution to the wind and go for the piece de resistance, her sundaes. — Bahar Anooshahr, AZCentral.com, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, piece of resistance

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pièce de résistance

noun

pièce de ré·​sis·​tance pē-ˌes-də-rə-ˌzē-ˈstän(t)s 

plural pièces de résistance

same

 

1

: the main dish of a meal

2

: an outstanding item or event : showpiece

Etymology

French, literally, "piece of resistance"