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

The piece de resistance, however, is a dazzling diamond ring by American jeweler Harry Winston. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024

The piece de resistance, the cherry on top, the icing on the cake, Rose B. Simpson’s one-of-a-kind Maria, her iconic interpretation of a Maria Martinez black-on-black pot applied to a 1985 El Camino. —Chadd Scott, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024

There’s no time now to categorize Curry’s history, but this may have been his piece de resistance, his magnum opus. —Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2023

The six touchdowns Davis scored on Notre Dame that day in December 1972 would go down as one of the greatest single-game performances in college football history, the piece de resistance of a storybook ‘72 season for USC that still ranks among the best the sport has ever seen. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2022

The piece de resistance? —Thomas Adamson, ajc, 2 Mar. 2023

And the piece de resistance? —Lisa Wood Shapiro, refinery29.com, 14 Sep. 2020

But the piece de resistance is the red fox fur jacket that Hutton threw on top on her way in. —Tara Gonzalez, Harper's BAZAAR, 10 Mar. 2023

The piece de resistance was the cover, which everyone wanted to be a tender moment between two friends and collaborators. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 Feb. 2023

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"