ceasefire

noun

cease·​fire ˈsēs-ˈfi(-ə)r How to pronounce ceasefire (audio)
variants or less commonly cease-fire
plural ceasefires also cease-fires
1
: a military order to cease firing
2
: a suspension of active hostilities

Examples of ceasefire in a Sentence

the two armies declared a ceasefire for the holiday
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Netanyahu initially said Israel would conquer all of Gaza after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal broke down in July. Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025 Many more returned to the city during a temporary ceasefire earlier this year. Aya Batrawy, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025 The release of the video came on the 700th day of the war, which was marked by protests across Israel calling for a ceasefire deal that would see the hostages released. Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025 Trump urged them to negotiate a ceasefire or else trade deals with the governments would stall. Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 After a three-hour meeting, though, no new sanctions were announced and the Russian president has not formally agreed to a ceasefire. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 Fighting erupted between Thailand and Cambodia in late July, although a ceasefire was reached five days into the conflict. Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025 There were no plans to discuss negotiations for a ceasefire at the meeting, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media. Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ceasefire was in 1844

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ceasefire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceasefire. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

cease-fire

noun
ˈsēs-ˈfī(ə)r
: a temporary stopping of warfare

More from Merriam-Webster on ceasefire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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