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accord

uh-KORD /əˈkɔːrd/

nounverbC1GRESAT

formaldiplomaticliterary

An official agreement or treaty; (as a verb) to give or grant someone power, status, or recognition.

Often used for high-level international agreements (e.g., the Paris Accord). It suggests a deep level of harmony.

The story behind the word. From 'ad-' (to) and 'cor' (heart). It literally means bringing hearts together. It’s the same 'cor' root found in 'courage' and 'cordial'.

Word relationships

pact: Pact is more common for specific, often secret or smaller-scale agreements; accord is grander and more public.
treaty: A treaty is a specific legal document; an accord can be the document or the state of agreement itself.

discord: Lack of agreement or harmony between people or things.

Commonly confused with

concord: Concord is the state of agreement; accord is often the formal agreement itself.

Word family

accordance (noun): Agreement or conformity (usually 'in accordance with').

Collocations

peace accord
in accord with
of one's own accord
reach an accord

Idioms & expressions

of one's own accord (voluntarily)

Example sentences

"The landmark climate accord was signed by nearly 200 nations in an effort to limit global warming." International environmental policy
"The visiting dignitary was accorded all the honors typically reserved for a head of state." Granting status

Memory hook

When you reach an ACCORD, you are in one CHORD (harmony). Hearts in harmony.

When not to use

Don't use for casual agreements like 'we agreed to meet at 5'. Use it for formal, significant pacts.

Fun facts

The Honda Accord was named to reflect the company's desire for 'accord and harmony between people, society and the automobile'.