# monde

/ˈmɑnd/ (US) · /mˈɒnd/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/monde
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

the world or a group of people. It is a French word that English speakers sometimes use to sound sophisticated or when talking about high society.

For teachers: the world or a specific social sphere. Borrowed from French; typically appears in specific phrases like 'beau monde' to refer to fashionable society or 'grand monde' for the aristocracy.

## Examples

- She was well-known among the local beau monde.
- The young artist hoped to make a name for himself within the Parisian beau monde during the summer season.
- His memoirs provide a cynical look at the vanities of the beau monde, detailing the elaborate social rituals that governed the lives of the nineteenth-century elite.

## Usage notes

- Usually appears as part of a French loan-phrase rather than as a standalone English noun.

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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.