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déroute

rout, disorderly retreat

noun deh-ROOT Rare
People & Society Military

Origin: From Old French desroute; related to route 'road, path'

Also means

confusion, disorder

Usage Note

Déroute primarily describes a chaotic military retreat, but it is widely used figuratively for any collapse into disorder — une déroute électorale (an electoral rout), une entreprise en déroute (a company in disarray). The verb dérouter means 'to disconcert' or 'to reroute'. Do not confuse with détour (a detour).

Examples

"L'armée ennemie était en pleine déroute."

Natural Translation

The enemy army was in full retreat.

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