cartel

noun kar-TEL Rare

Origin: Italian cartello (placard, challenge), from carta (paper)

Also means

challenge card (historical)

Usage Note

Cartel in modern French most commonly refers to an illegal business cartel or drug cartel (cartel de la drogue). Historically it meant a written challenge to a duel or an agreement between enemy powers. In electoral politics, un cartel électoral is an alliance of parties for a specific vote. The final l is pronounced.

Examples

"Les autorités ont demantele un cartel de la drogue."

Natural Translation

The authorities dismantled a drug cartel.

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