accord

1 of 2

verb

ac·​cord ə-ˈkȯrd 

accorded; according; accords

transitive verb

1

: to grant or give especially as appropriate, due, or earned

The competitors should all be accorded equal respect.

2

: to bring into agreement : reconcile

intransitive verb

1

: to be consistent or in harmony : agree

—usually used with with

a theory that accords with the known facts

2

archaic : to arrive at an agreement

3

obsolete : to give consent

accord

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: agreement, conformity

acted in accord with the company's policy

b

: a formal reaching of agreement : compact, treaty

a peace accord

2

: voluntary or spontaneous impulse to act

gave generously of their own accord

3

: balanced interrelationship : harmony

4

obsolete : assent

Did you know?

A new federal law may accord with—or be in accordance with—the guidelines that a company has already established. The rowdy behavior of the hero Beowulf accords with Norse ideals of the early Middle Ages; but such behavior wouldn't have been in accordance with the ideals of a later young lord from the same general region, Shakespeare's Prince Hamlet. Accord is also a noun, meaning "agreement". Thus, we often hear of two countries signing a peace accord; and we also frequently hear of two things or people being "in accord with" each other.

Synonyms

Verb

• agree
• answer
• check
• chord
• cohere
• coincide
• comport
• conform
• consist
• correspond
• dovetail
• fit
• go
• harmonize
• jibe
• rhyme
• rime
• sort
• square
• tally

Noun

• alliance
• compact
• convention
• covenant
• pact
• treaty

Choose the Right Synonym for accord

grant, concede, vouchsafe, accord, award mean to give as a favor or a right.

grant implies giving to a claimant or petitioner something that could be withheld.

granted them a new hearing

concede implies yielding something reluctantly in response to a rightful or compelling claim.

even her critics concede she can be charming

vouchsafe implies granting something as a courtesy or an act of gracious condescension.

vouchsafed the secret to only a few chosen disciples

accord implies giving to another what is due or proper.

accorded all the honors befitting a head of state

award implies giving what is deserved or merited usually after a careful weighing of pertinent factors.

awarded the company a huge defense contract

Examples of accord in a Sentence

Verb

He was accorded certain favors because of his age.

claims that the newspaper's quote does not accord with what he actually said

Noun

The two sides were able to reach an accord.

hoped to bring about a peace accord between the warring nations

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, had said the accord was proving effective. —Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025

On Tuesday, McIlroy revisited the topic on his own accord. —Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

Today’s official kick-off follows the signing of an accord by representatives of the European Union’s European Investment Fund (EIF) in Paris on Friday committing €25M ($28.5M) to the fund. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2025

Muse: an ink accord couture fragrance The scent created by Master Perfumer Marie Salamagne, is a smoky, woody ink accord. —Stephanie Hirschmiller, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English accorden, acorden "to reconcile, come to an agreement, be in agreement," borrowed from Anglo-French acorder, going back to Vulgar Latin *accordāre, from Latin ad- ad- + -cordāre, as in concordāre "to be in agreement," discordāre "to be in conflict" — more at concordance

Noun

Middle English accord, acord, borrowed from Anglo-French acord, acorde, noun derivative of acorder "to come to an agreement, accord entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing accord

• accord with
• in accord
• in accord with
• of its own accord
• of one's own accord
• with one accord

Rhymes for accord

• abhorred
• aboard
• adored
• afford
• award
• baseboard
• billboard
• blackboard
• boxboard
• breadboard
• broadsword
• buckboard

Kids Definition

accord

1 of 2 verb

ac·​cord ə-ˈkȯrd 

1

: to grant as suitable or proper

rights accorded to citizens

2

: to be in harmony : agree

a theory that accords with known fact

accord

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: agreement sense 1b, harmony

b

: an agreement between parties

reach an accord

2

: willingness to act or do something

went of their own accord

Legal Definition

accord

1 of 2 transitive verb

ac·​cord ə-ˈkȯrd 

1

: to bring into agreement

2

: to grant or give especially as appropriate, due, or earned

intransitive verb

: to be consistent or in harmony

Note: Accord in this sense is often used to introduce a case or an authority that accords with the case or authority just cited, as for example in a sentence like “… a decision based on equitable principles. Accord Smith v. Jones, 1 F.2d 2 (1900).”

accord

2 of 2 noun

1

: agreement of opinion

both cases in accord

2

: a formal act of agreement : treaty

an economic accord

3

: an accepted offer by which the parties agree that a specified future performance will discharge in full an obligation when performed even though the performance is of less value than the original obligation

also : the defense that an accord was agreed upon

—usually used in the phrase accord and satisfaction

called also executory accord

compare composition, compromise, novation, satisfaction, substituted contract at contract, transaction sense 3