con·tre·temps noun \ˈkän-trə-ˌtäⁿ, kōⁿ-trə-täⁿ\ : an unfortunate or embarrassing event, argument, or disagreement plural con·tre·temps Full Definition of CONTRETEMPS 1 : an inopportune or embarrassing occurrence or situation 2 : dispute, argument See contretemps defined for English-language learners » Examples of CONTRETEMPS The senator dismissed his disagreement with the President as a minor contretemps. <there was a bit of a contretemps over the seating arrangements for the upcoming wedding> Origin of CONTRETEMPS French, from contre- counter- + temps time, from Latin tempus First Known Use: 1769
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