pas de deux

noun

plural pas de deux ˌpä-də-ˈdər(z) How to pronounce pas de deux (audio)
-ˈdə(z),
-ˈdü(z)
1
: a dance or figure for two performers
2
: an intricate relationship or activity involving two parties or things

Examples of pas de deux in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sometimes the pas de deux between light showbiz dramedy and weightier themes, from the existential threats facing the arts community to the imminence of extinction-level environmental catastrophes, can feel disproportionate. Judy Berman, Time, 23 Apr. 2025 Her dancers were all gay, and this enabled her, as a pop star, to present herself in a new kind of pas de deux with masculinity. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Apr. 2025 Fashion and art have long danced a pas de deux, with artists evoking dress in their work and designers referencing art in their creations. Dana Thomas, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025 Apart from two sequences where all six major characters gather under George and Kathryn’s roof, nearly every crucial scene takes the form of a pas de deux, springloaded with nearly indistinguishable secrets and lies. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pas de deux

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, step for two

First Known Use

circa 1762, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pas de deux was circa 1762

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Cite this Entry

“Pas de deux.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pas%20de%20deux. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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