le but

The French word "but" can be understood in two main senses:

1. Goal, Aim, Purpose

• Meaning: "But" in French mainly means goal, aim, or purpose—the reason why someone does something or the intended outcome.
• Usage example:
  Le but de cette réunion est de trouver une solution.
  (The purpose of this meeting is to find a solution.)
• Synonyms:
  • objectif (objective)
  • fin (end/goal)
  • intention (intention)
  • raison (reason)
• Antonyms:
  • hasard (chance) — lacking purpose
  • désorganisation (disorganization) can be contextually opposite when there is no clear goal

2. In Sports — "Goal" or "Score"

• Here, "but" is also used in contexts like football (soccer) or hockey, referring to a goal—the act of scoring a point.
• Usage example:
  Il a marqué un but pendant le match.
  (He scored a goal during the match.)
• Related vocabulary:
  • marquer un but (to score a goal)
  • gardien de but (goalkeeper)

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Structure

The word but is a simple, monosyllabic noun (masculine: le but). It does not change its form in plural, which is les buts.

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Summary:

• But = Goal or Purpose (general use)
• But = Goal or Score (in sports)

Both senses share the idea of a target or desired outcome.