Basic Details
Word: Raisond'tre
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The most important reason or purpose for someone or something's existence.
Synonyms: Purpose, justification, mission, meaning
Antonyms: Pointlessness, irrelevance, futility
Idioms and Phrases
- Raison d'tre of life: Refers to one's primary motivation or life goal. Example: "Helping others is her raison d'tre."
- Be the raison d'tre for: To be the fundamental reason or justification for something. Example: "For many artists, creativity is their raison d'tre for living."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Teaching underprivileged children became his raison d'tre after he left his corporate job.
Example 2: For some, their career becomes their sole raison d'tre.
Example 3: The charity's raison d'tre is to provide clean water to remote villages.
Fun Fact
The term "raison d'tre" is borrowed directly from French, meaning "reason for being." It has been adopted into English without translation, often used in philosophical or literary contexts.
Famous Quote
"Love is my raison d'tre." Simone de Beauvoir
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "raison d'tre" mean?
a) A type of dessert
b) The main reason for existence
c) A holiday destination
d) A language
Answer: b) The main reason for existence
2. Which of these is a synonym of "raison d'tre"?
a) Irrelevance
b) Purpose
c) Confusion
d) Distraction
Answer: b) Purpose
3. Which is an antonym of "raison d'tre"?
a) Justification
b) Mission
c) Pointlessness
d) Calling
Answer: c) Pointlessness
4. Which sentence uses "raison d'tre" correctly?
a) He cooked a raison d'tre for dinner.
b) Traveling is her raison d'tre; it gives her life meaning.
c) I saw a raison d'tre in the zoo.
d) His raison d'tre was on sale.
Answer: b) Traveling is her raison d'tre; it gives her life meaning.
5. What does the phrase "be the raison d'tre for" imply?
a) To dislike something
b) To justify the existence of something
c) To destroy a purpose
d) To forget one's responsibilities
Answer: b) To justify the existence of something
