pact

noun

ˈpakt 

: compact entry 4

especially : an international treaty

Did you know?

Pact has "peace" at its root because a pact often ends a period of unfriendly relations. The word is generally used in the field of international relations, where diplomats may speak of an "arms pact", a "trade pact", or a "fishing-rights pact". But it may also be used for any solemn agreement or promise between two people; after all, whenever two parties shake hands on a deal, they're not about to go to war with each other.

Synonyms of pact

• treaty

Examples of pact in a Sentence

We supported a peace pact between the two countries.

They made a pact to go to the gym together three times a week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ward inked a three-year, $60 million deal, and Bynum signed a four-year, $60 million pact. —James Boyd, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025

At the same time, the rules of origin in the Southeast Asian pacts are still hazy at best, with no firm commitments from either side. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2025

The pact designates Utopai as the exclusive AI tech partner for entertainment for Stock Farm Road, which is reportedly looking to turn Korea into a $35B artificial intelligence data center. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025

While some technical details remain to be added, the bones of this pact are available within the 109 pages now in the public domain. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin pactum, from neuter of pactus, past participle of pacisci to agree, contract; akin to Old English fōn to seize, Latin pax peace, pangere to fix, fasten, Greek pēgnynai

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pact

• nonaggression pact/treaty
• nonaggression treaty/pact
• suicide pact

Rhymes for pact

• act
• backed
• blacked
• bract
• cracked
• fact
• hacked
• jacked
• lacked
• packed
• racked
• sacked

Kids Definition

pact

noun

ˈpakt 

: agreement sense 2

especially : a treaty between countries

Etymology

Middle English pact "agreement," from early French pact (same meaning), from Latin pactum (same meaning), derived from pacisci "to agree, contract"