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tout court

UK/ˌtuː ˈkɔː/US/ˌtu ˈkɔɹ/

adverb

Just, simply; without addition or qualification; alone.

OriginFrench tout court →

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Meanings

adverbtout court (not comparable)

not comparableJust, simply; without addition or qualification; alone.
People did not bow down and worship a rock tout court; the rock was simply a focus that directed their attention to the mysterious essence of life.
2009, Karen Armstrong, The Case for God, Vintage, published 2010, page 21
1 more example
Harry was ‘Master Harry’ in their mouths; Judy was officially ‘Miss Judy’; but Black Sheep was never anything more than Black Sheep tout court.
1888, Rudyard Kipling, Baa Baa, Black Sheep

Origin

Frenchtout court
Englishtout court

Borrowed from French tout court.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with tout court

for or your more store before four war sure tour mature therefore ensure floor outdoor core poor hardcore nor explore pure Moore horror pour

Cite this entry

APA

tout court. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tout%20court

MLA

“tout court.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tout%20court. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tout court,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tout%20court.

Source: tout court on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.