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

The company also struck a new distribution pact with DirecTV and expanded its portfolio of sports rights, securing the rights to broadcast the Olympics in Mexico through 2032. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025

The leaders signed new pacts covering railways, trade, security, and technology, including plans for a Kenyan consulate in Guangzhou. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

The new film centers on a group of five friends facing dangerous consequences after making a pact to stay silent about their involvement in a tragic car accident. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025

Similarly, Corteva and Pairwise signed a pact to bring innovative gene-editing technology to farmers. —David Flower, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for pact

• act
• backed
• blacked
• bract
• cracked
• fact
• hacked
• jacked
• lacked
• packed
• racked
• sacked

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"