rai⋅son d'ê⋅tre   [rey-zohn de-truh; Fr. re-zawn de-truh ] Show IPA
-noun, plural rai⋅sons d'ê⋅tre  [rey-zohnz de-truh; Fr. re-zawn de-truh ] Show IPA .
reason or justification for being or existence: Art is the artist's raison d'être.