éminence grise

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éminence grise

/ˌɛmɪnɒns ˈɡɹiːz/ UK, also
/ˌeɪ-/ UK
/ˌɛmɪnɑns ˈɡɹiz/ US, also
/ˌeɪ-/ US

Rhymes with -iːz

Where it comes from

Borrowed from French éminence grise (literally “grey eminence”), originally applied to François Leclerc du Tremblay (1577–1638), also known as Père Joseph, a French Capuchin friar who was the confidant and agent of Cardinal Richelieu (1585–1642), the chief minister of France under Louis XIII (1601–1643). The term refers to du Tremblay’s influence over the Cardinal (who bore the honorific of Eminence), and the colour of his habit (grey, rather than the red of a cardinal).

noun éminences grises · éminence grises · eminence grise

idiomatic A secret or unofficial decision-maker. But Harry Hopkins was no mere manipulator of people and ideas, no eminence grise masterminding the actions of figureheads.
Similar: power behind the throne, gray eminence

Translations

Every language

noun secret or unofficial decision-maker — see also power behind the throne

Español	eminencia gris, jefe máximo
한국어	흑막 heungmak
日本語	黒幕 kuromaku
中文	灰衣主教 huīyī zhǔjiào
Português	eminência parda
Français	éminence grise
Deutsch	graue Eminenz
Italiano	eminenza grigia
Română	eminență cenușie

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MLA

"éminence grise." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/%C3%A9minence%20grise. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

éminence grise. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/%C3%A9minence%20grise

Chicago

"éminence grise." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/%C3%A9minence%20grise.

BibTeX

@misc{e_minence_grise_2026,
  title = {éminence grise},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/%C3%A9minence%20grise},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}