Encadré

Encadré is a French term with several related meanings, principally tied to the idea of surrounding or separating something by a border or frame. As a noun, it denotes a boxed or framed element within a text or page. Such an encadré is a distinct block that is set apart from the main body by a border, shading, or a different typographic treatment and is used to present supplementary information, a quotation, a caption, a short note, or an illustration. In journalism and publishing, encadrés function as sidebars or callouts that draw the reader’s attention to key facts without interrupting the flow of the main article.

As an adjective, encadré describes something that is framed or enclosed within a border, or more generally something that is bounded, controlled, or organized in a structured way. The term is commonly found in editorial or design contexts to indicate a clearly delineated element or section.

As a verb, encadrer means to frame, to surround with a frame, or to supervise and mentor. Its past participle, encadré, is used in compound tenses and can also function as an adjective meaning “framed” or “supervised” depending on the context. In organizational or educational settings, encadrer refers to the act of supervising a person or a group; the related noun encadrant (or encadrante) denotes a supervisor, while encadré can refer to the person who is under supervision.

Background and usage: encadrés are common in printed and digital texts, textbooks, newspapers, and magazines as a device to present ancillary information succinctly. The word reflects the broader French habit of using framing to guide reader attention and structure information. See also encadrer, cadre, and sidebar concepts in publishing.