armistice
AR-mi-stiss
/ˈɑːr.mɪ.stɪs/
An agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.
An armistice is more formal than a simple truce and often serves as the precursor to a permanent peace treaty.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'arma' (arms/weapons) and 'stitium' (a stopping). It literally means 'a standing still of arms.' It shares the '-stice' suffix with 'solstice' (the sun standing still).
Word relationships
- truce: A truce can be informal and localized; an armistice is a formal, high-level agreement to stop fighting.
- hostilities: Hostilities refer to active fighting and warfare, the opposite of an armistice.
Commonly confused with
- amnesty: An armistice stops the fighting; an amnesty pardons the fighters for their past actions.
Collocations
- sign an armistice
- armistice agreement
- call for an armistice
Example sentences
- "The Armistice of 11 November 1918 ended the fighting on the Western Front." History
- "Technically, the two nations are still at war, as only an armistice was signed rather than a peace treaty." Geopolitics
Memory hook
The 'arms' (weapons) are 'at a standstill' (stice). Weapons at a standstill.
When not to use
Do not use for personal arguments; it is strictly for armed conflict.
Fun facts
- Armistice Day is commemorated every year on November 11th, though in many countries it is now known as Remembrance Day or Veterans Day.
Related words
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