revanche

1 of 2

noun (1)

re·​vanche rə-ˈväⁿsh 

: revenge

especially : a usually political policy designed to recover lost territory or status

revanchism

rə-ˈväⁿ-ˌshi-zəm 

noun

revanchism

2 of 2

noun (2)

re·​vanch·​ism rə̇ˈväⁿˌshizəm 

plural -s

: revanche

a policy of nationalistic revanchism

—Bernard Fall

Did you know?

Revanche first appeared in English in the mid-19th century, deriving, along with our noun "revenge," from the Middle French verb revenchier ("to revenge"). The word developed its specific political application in the years following the Franco-German War (1870-71), which resulted in France losing the territory known as Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. (The territory was returned to France following World War I and then twice switched hands again during World War II.) Although "revanche" appears occasionally in English today, you are more likely to encounter its relatives "revanchism," which refers to a government's policy of revanche, and "revanchist," referring to a follower of such a policy. These words did not appear in English until the 20th century.

Examples of revanche in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the militant revanche of the late Putin era, men are men, women are women, and the men are in charge. — Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French, from Middle French, alteration of revenche — more at revenge

Noun (2)

French revanchisme, from revanche + -isme -ism

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1853, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1951, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for revanche

• avalanche
• blanch
• branch
• cranch
• manche
• ranch
• stanch
• tranche

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