carte blanche
noun
plural cartes blanches
ˈkärt(s)-ˈblänch 
-ˈbläⁿsh
-ˈbläⁿsh
: full discretionary (see discretion sense 1a) power
was given carte blanche to furnish the house
Did you know?
Carte blanche is much like a blank check. In French, carte means "document" and blanche means "blank," so the phrase means "blank document." English retained that literal meaning: a carte blanche was a blank document signed in advance by one party and given to the other with permission to fill in conditions later. Much like blank check, carte blanche also took on the extended meaning "complete freedom."
Examples of carte blanche in a Sentence
We gave the decorator carte blanche to furnish the house.
Recent Examples on the Web
But here was an opportunity to basically have carte blanche.
—
Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2024
This statement intends to communicate that the Arab signatories to the Abraham Accords have not given Israel carte blanche, especially when Israel’s actions increase threats to their own security.
—Lina Khatib, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2023
The weight-doesn’t-matter mantra lets manufacturers off the hook, giving them carte blanche to keep cranking out burdensome behemoths.
—Dario Digiulio, Outside Online, 24 Sep. 2024
While this doesn’t necessarily give carte blanche, executives view these restraints as a license to get creative.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for carte blanche 
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Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2024
This statement intends to communicate that the Arab signatories to the Abraham Accords have not given Israel carte blanche, especially when Israel’s actions increase threats to their own security.
—Lina Khatib, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2023
The weight-doesn’t-matter mantra lets manufacturers off the hook, giving them carte blanche to keep cranking out burdensome behemoths.
—Dario Digiulio, Outside Online, 24 Sep. 2024
While this doesn’t necessarily give carte blanche, executives view these restraints as a license to get creative.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for carte blanche
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Dictionary Entries Near carte blanche
Cite this Entry
“Carte blanche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carte%20blanche. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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