Dictionary

bien pensant en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌbjæ̃ pɒ̃ˈsɒ̃/
• /ˌbyɛn pɛnˈsɑnt/

Etymology

Borrowed from French bien-pensant (literally “well-thinking”).

Meanings

1. Right-thinking; orthodox, conformist.
   • My biggest beef is the idea that increasingly grips liberal thinkers desperate for anything radical – the concept of a universal income for all. Financially, behaviourally and organisationally bonkers, this idea is gaining traction on the bien pensant left. 2017 March 13, Will Hutton, “Utopia for Realists: And How We Can Get There by Rutger Bregman – review”, in The Guardian:
   • He hopes Mr Abbott wins the election in part because it would, he says, annoy bien-pensant British journalists and Leftists who oppose the Australian's positions on things like abortion, gay marriage or climate change. 2010 August 23, Bagehot, The Economist:

Forms

bien pensant en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌbjæ̃ pɒ̃ˈsɒ̃/
• /ˌbyɛn pɛnˈsɑnt/

Etymology

Borrowed from French bien-pensant (literally “well-thinking”).

Meanings

1. A person who is bien pensant.
2. Someone who accepts and/or espouses a fashionable idea after it has been established and maintains it without a great amount of critical thought.
   • Near-synonyms: follower, believer, conformist

Forms

Synonyms

conformist · believer · follower