phrase
French
Raison d'Être
/ˌreɪzɒ̃ ˈdɛtrə/
lit. “reason for being”
The core purpose of something or someone.
Origin
Adopted into English in the mid-19th century. Used in serious essays about institutions ('the raison d'être of the United Nations') and in casual self-talk about purpose.
Modern usage
Common in mission-statement writing, biographies, and personal essays.
Tags
purpose
meaning