un clair volonté

You will usually see this phrase paired with verbs like montrer (to show), avoir (to have), or afficher (to display). You don't just 'do' a clear will; you manifest it. Think of it as a tool for describing someone's attitude. If your boss starts a meeting by saying we need to save the planet, and then immediately bans plastic cups, they are showing une claire volonté. You place it after the verb to describe the quality of the intention. Remember that volonté is feminine, so we use une and claire.

This is your go-to phrase for serious situations. Use it in a professional performance review. Use it when discussing politics or social changes. It works perfectly when you want to praise someone’s leadership. If a friend is finally quitting smoking and has thrown away all their lighters, they have une claire volonté. It sounds sophisticated and thoughtful. It shows you are paying attention to the depth of their commitment.

Don't use this for trivial things. If you want a slice of pizza, you don't have une claire volonté to eat pepperoni. That sounds way too dramatic! You just have an envie (a craving). Avoid using it in very casual slang-heavy conversations with teenagers. It might make you sound like a politician giving a press conference. Also, don't use it if the person is actually unsure. If they are hesitating, the 'clear' part of the phrase no longer applies.

In France, the concept of 'will' (la volonté) is a big deal. It’s rooted in Enlightenment philosophy. Think of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the 'General Will'. The French appreciate when things are 'clair' (clear). There is a famous saying: 'Ce qui n'est pas clair n'est pas français' (What is not clear is not French). So, combining 'clear' with 'will' is the ultimate French way of saying someone is being rational and decisive. It’s a very respected trait in French professional culture.

You might hear une volonté de fer (a will of iron) for someone who is unstoppable. Another one is une volonté manifeste, which is a bit more formal and means the will is 'evident'. If you want to be more poetic, you could say une ferme volonté (a firm will). If you want to talk about the lack of it, you’d say un manque de volonté. But une claire volonté remains the best way to describe an intention that is both strong and easy to see.