stalemate
STAYL-mayt
/ˈsteɪlmeɪt/
A position counting as a draw in chess; more generally, any situation where further action is impossible.
Unlike an impasse, a stalemate often implies that both sides have exhausted all their legal or possible moves, resulting in a forced draw.
The story behind the word. The 'stale' part comes from an old word for a fixed position or a stand, while 'mate' comes from the Persian 'māt' (helpless). It describes a king who is 'stuck' in his place.
Word relationships
- deadlock: Stalemate specifically evokes the imagery of a game or contest where no one can win.
- victory: A victory is the clear winning outcome that a stalemate prevents.
Commonly confused with
- checkmate: Checkmate is a win/loss; stalemate is a draw where no one can move.
Word family
- stalemated (verb): to have brought to a stalemate
Collocations
- end in a stalemate
- political stalemate
- bloody stalemate
Example sentences
- "The game ended in a stalemate when the king had no legal moves but was not in check." Chess match
- "The war had degenerated into a bloody stalemate, with neither side able to gain ground." Warfare
Memory hook
The game has gone 'stale' (old and unchanging) and reached a 'mate' (end). A chess board where no pieces can move.
When not to use
Do not use if one side has clearly won; that would be a 'checkmate'.
Fun facts
- In some early versions of chess, the person who was stalemated actually won the game, though modern rules declare it a draw.
Related words
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