pact

noun

ˈpakt 

: compact entry 4

especially : an international treaty

Did you know?

Pact has "peace" at its root because a pact often ends a period of unfriendly relations. The word is generally used in the field of international relations, where diplomats may speak of an "arms pact", a "trade pact", or a "fishing-rights pact". But it may also be used for any solemn agreement or promise between two people; after all, whenever two parties shake hands on a deal, they're not about to go to war with each other.

Synonyms

• accord
• alliance
• compact
• convention
• covenant
• treaty

Examples of pact in a Sentence

We supported a peace pact between the two countries.

They made a pact to go to the gym together three times a week.

Recent Examples on the Web

That was followed by Netflix reaching pacts with France’s broadcasting authorities that would see the U.S.-based streamer invest 20 percent of its annual revenue in France, in both TV series and movies, and separately with French cinema guilds to invest in French and European films. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024

Further complicating matters, Western intelligence sources report that Russia has begun to incorporate about 10,000 North Korean combat troops into its offensive, a move facilitated by a pact between Moscow and Pyongyang. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

The change in the corporate suite comes just days after the group was among companies fined by French antitrust regulators over a price-fixing pact. —Jason Ma, Fortune Europe, 4 Nov. 2024

As part of the pact, Amazon gets to stream 66 regular-season NBA games around the world, including an opening-week doubleheader. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin pactum, from neuter of pactus, past participle of pacisci to agree, contract; akin to Old English fōn to seize, Latin pax peace, pangere to fix, fasten, Greek pēgnynai

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pact

• nonaggression pact/treaty
• nonaggression treaty/pact
• suicide pact

Kids Definition

pact

noun

ˈpakt 

: agreement sense 2

especially : a treaty between countries

Etymology

Middle English pact "agreement," from early French pact (same meaning), from Latin pactum (same meaning), derived from pacisci "to agree, contract"