cachet

• Nom désignant un signe de distinction, de prestige ou de haut statut ; historiquement, également un sceau apposé sur une lettre ou un ordre émis par le roi de France.

A noun referring to a mark of distinction, prestige, or superior status; historically also a seal on a letter or a warrant issued by a French king.

1. Status or PrestigeC1formal

   A mark or quality that indicates approval, high status, or superiority.

   Prestige, caractère distinctif

   • The award gave the film a certain cachet.
   • Living in that neighborhood carries a lot of social cachet.
   • The brand's cachet comes from its long history of quality.

   Synonymesauthoritydistinctioneclatesteemglamourkudosprestigerenownstandingstatus

2. Historical French WarrantC2formalbritish

   A sealed warrant issued by the French king, often used to authorize imprisonment without trial.

   Lettre de cachet

   • The king signed a lettre de cachet to silence his critic.
   • Many were imprisoned under a royal cachet during that era.
   • The historian studied the use of cachets in pre-revolutionary France.

3. Official SealC1formal

   A seal, especially one used on official documents or letters.

   Cachet officiel

   • The document bore the king's cachet.
   • A wax cachet was used to authenticate the letter.
   • The envelope was closed with a red cachet.

   Synonymeshallmarkimprimatursealsignetstamp