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Showing results for raison d'etre. Search instead for saisonbetriebe.
Definitions

raison d'etre

[rey-zohn de-truh, re-zawn de-truh] / ˈreɪ zoʊn ˈdɛ trə, rɛ zɔ̃ ˈdɛ trə /
NOUN
reason for being
Synonyms
WEAK
basis justification for existing rationale reason for existing reason why
raison d'être
NOUN
reason for being
Synonyms
WEAK
basis justification for existing rationale reason for existing reason why

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The raison d’être for all things art-related happening here in late February.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

It is also working to build the type of cutting-edge AI agents that some investors think threaten its entire raison d’être.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

BeReal’s appeal ended the second the app started pushing users to friend randos and post more than once a day, defeating its entire raison d’être.

From Slate • Dec. 14, 2025

Not far away, at Pepa Bar a Vins, irreverence was the raison d’être.

From Salon • Dec. 6, 2025

At this distance, we can see the raison d’être of what the satirist regarded as religious aberrations, the full treatment of which must be reserved for another chapter.

From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Dill, Samuel