tour de force: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal
Quick answer
What does “tour de force” mean?
A performance or achievement that demonstrates exceptional skill or brilliance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A performance or achievement that demonstrates exceptional skill or brilliance.
An exceptional work, feat, or performance that serves as a masterful display of talent, technique, or ingenuity in any field, often implying it was difficult to accomplish.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. It is equally recognized in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with high culture (theatre, classical music, literature) in UK usage, while in US usage it is also commonly applied to technological, sporting, and cinematic achievements.
Frequency
Moderate and similar frequency in both formal/academic/journalistic contexts. Rare in casual conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “tour de force” in a Sentence
[BE] a tour de force[BE] a tour de force of [NP][VERB] a tour de forceVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used to describe an exceptionally successful product launch or a brilliantly executed corporate strategy.
Academic
Common in critique and analysis of works in humanities (literature, art history, musicology) to denote an exemplary piece of scholarship or a seminal artistic work.
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound overly formal or pretentious in casual talk.
Technical
Used in fields like engineering, software development, or surgery to describe an exceptionally clever or complex solution or procedure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tour de force”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tour de force”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tour de force”
- Mispronouncing 'tour' as /taʊə(r)/ (like a sightseeing tour) instead of /tʊə(r)/. Incorrectly using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a tour de force performance' is redundant; 'a tour de force' is the performance itself). Writing it without italics or quotes is now standard, but some style guides still recommend italics for foreign phrases.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is exclusively a term of praise, implying exceptional skill and success.
It is now considered fully anglicized. Most modern style guides (e.g., Oxford, APA) recommend roman type without quotation marks, though some conservative or artistic publications may still use italics.
Not directly. It refers to the achievement or performance, not the person. You say 'Her performance was a tour de force,' not 'She is a tour de force.' However, metonymically, one might say 'She delivered a tour de force.'
The plural is 'tours de force' (pronounced the same, with a plural verb). 'Tour de forces' is considered incorrect by purists, though it is occasionally seen.
A performance or achievement that demonstrates exceptional skill or brilliance.
Tour de force is usually formal in register.
Tour de force: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʊə də ˈfɔːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʊr də ˈfɔːrs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the TOUR de France cycling race – it's a massive feat of endurance. A TOUR DE FORCE is any massive feat of skill.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS A MONUMENTAL JOURNEY/EXHIBITION OF STRENGTH.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'tour de force' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?