bien pensant

English

Etymology

From French bien pensant.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /bjɛ̃ pɑ̃sɑ̃/

Adjective

bien pensant (comparative more bien pensant, superlative most bien pensant)

1. Right-thinking, orthodox, conformist; conservative.
   • 2010, Bagehot, The Economist, 23 Aug 2010:

     He hopes Mr Abbott wins the election in part because it would, he says, annoy bien-pensant British journalists and Leftists who oppose the Australian's positions on things like abortion, gay marriage or climate change.

Noun

bien pensant (plural bien pensants)

1. A person who is bien pensant.
2. Someone who accepts and or espouses a fashionable idea after it has been established and maintains it without a great amount of critical thought.

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA: /bjɛ̃ pɑ̃sɑ̃/

Adjective

bien pensant m. (f. bien pensante, m. plural bien pensants, f. plural bien pensantes)

1. bien pensant
2. (literally) 'good thinking'

Noun

bien pensant m. (plural bien pensants)

1. bien pensant