tour de force

Definition

A feat demonstrating brilliance or mastery in a field.

Etymology

Borrowed from French tour de force (“feat of strength”), circa 19th century.

Example Sentences

• "Now orbiting Earth, Gravity Probe B is a technological tour de force."
• "Much as I admire Wilson’s tour de force—I wish people would read it more and read about it less—my hackles have always risen at the entirely false suggestion that his book influenced mine."