armistice
An agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a formal truce.
An armistice is highly formal and legally binding, often signed by top military or political leaders. It is more permanent than a simple ceasefire and typically serves as the precursor to a formal peace treaty.
Word relationships
- truce: A truce can be informal, localized, or temporary, whereas an armistice is a formal, nationwide agreement that often leads to a permanent peace treaty.
- ceasefire: A ceasefire is often a tactical, short-term pause in shooting, while an armistice is a high-level political agreement to suspend hostilities indefinitely.
- hostilities: Hostilities refers to active fighting and warfare, the direct opposite of a formal agreement to stop fighting.
Commonly confused with
- peace treaty: An armistice only stops the active fighting; a peace treaty officially ends the state of war and resolves the underlying political disputes.
Word family
- armistice (noun): A formal agreement to stop fighting.
Collocations
- sign an armistice
- declare an armistice
- armistice agreement
Example sentences
- "An armistice has been signed, and the war is at an end." Historical announcement of the end of World War I.
- "The two nations agreed to an armistice while their diplomats hammered out the final details of the peace treaty." Diplomatic negotiations to end a modern border conflict.
Memory hook
Think of 'arms' (weapons) and 'stay' (stand still). An armistice is when the arms stay still. Arm-is-stice: Arms are still.
When not to use
Do not use for informal arguments or brief, localized pauses in fighting. For example, two children stopping a playground fight do not sign an armistice.
Fun facts
- The most famous armistice in history was signed on November 11, 1918, in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiègne, marking the end of World War I.
Related words
Also appears in
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.