SportsJuly 9, 2026
carte
/kɑːrt/
Definition
Refers to the French phrase 'carte blanche', meaning unrestricted authority or complete freedom to act as one wishes.
Etymology
Derived from the French phrase meaning 'white card' or 'blank paper.' It entered English in the 18th century to describe the power of having a blank signed document that one could fill in with any instructions.
In the news
In the article, the term is used to express concern that Russian athletes might be allowed to return to competition without sufficient oversight or restrictions. The speaker worries about granting them 'carte blanche' in light of previous state-sponsored doping scandals.
The IOC clears the way for Russian athletes to return to Olympic competition
Read the full article ↗NPR