démarche
noun
Did you know?
When it comes to international diplomacy, the French may not always have the last word—but they have quite a few, many of which they've shared with English. We began using démarche—which in French can mean "gait," "walk," or "action," among other things—in the 17th century. It was first used generally in the sense of "a maneuver," and before long it developed a specific use in the world of diplomacy. Some of the other diplomacy-related words we use that come from French include attaché, chargé d'affaires, communiqué, détente, and agrément—not to mention the words diplomacy and diplomat themselves.
Example Sentences
Arkansas Online, 16 Apr. 2022 The Russian diplomatic protest note, called a demarche, was sent through normal channels, two administration officials said, and it was not signed by President Vladimir Putin or other senior Russian officials. Arkansas Online, 16 Apr. 2022 The State Department did not even send out formal diplomatic notes - known as demarches - to Security Council capitals seeking support. chicagotribune.com, 9 Mar. 2018 Our embassies should not limit themselves to delivering the demarche, however, but should undertake extensive public diplomacy as well. John R. Bolton, National Review, 28 Aug. 2017 According to a State Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be more candid, Rank was unwilling to deliver the demarche. Carol Morello, Washington Post, 5 June 2017 In private life, the brothers were both partners in the white-shoe New York law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell, whose clients’ interests often aligned with U.S. foreign policy demarches.... Alex Beam, WSJ, 8 Mar. 2017 See More Word History
French démarche, literally, gait, from Middle French, from demarcher to march, from Old French demarchier, from de- + marchier to march
1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1a