# bien

/ˈbin/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bien
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a word from French that means 'well'. You usually see it in phrases like 'bien entendu', which means 'of course'.

For teachers: the French word for 'well', used in English primarily within loan phrases or specific cultural contexts. Typically appears in fixed expressions such as 'bien entendu' or 'bien pensant'.

## Examples

- He said 'bien entendu' to show he agreed.
- The critic described the film's ending as 'bien entendu', suggesting it was entirely expected and conventional.
- While the term is rarely used in isolation in English, it persists in the vocabulary of the 'bien pensant' elite to describe socially acceptable or orthodox opinions.

## Usage notes

- Primarily functions as a loanword within fixed French phrases; rarely used as a standalone adverb in English prose.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.