əˈrändə̇smənt, ˌarənˈdēsmənt, əˈrändēˌsmäⁿ, F ȧrōⁿdēsmäⁿ noun
( plural arrondissements -ənts, -äⁿz, F -äⁿ)
Etymology: French, from Middle French, action of making round, from arrondiss- (stem of arrondir to make round, from Old French arondir, areondir, from a- — from Latin ad- — + -rondir, -reondir, from reont, roont round) + connective -e- + Middle French -ment — more at round
1. : the largest administrative subdivision of a French department
2. : a ward or administrative district of some large cities of France
Paris is subdivided into 20 arrondissements