ceasefire

noun

cease·​fire ˈsēs-ˈfi(-ə)r 

variants or less commonly cease-fire

plural ceasefires also cease-fires

1

: a military order to cease firing

2

: a suspension of active hostilities

Synonyms of ceasefire

• truce
• accord
• armistice

Examples of ceasefire in a Sentence

the two armies declared a ceasefire for the holiday

Recent Examples on the Web

Previous ceasefire talks either failed or the truces quickly fell apart. — Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026

Previous efforts to secure ceasefires either never worked out or the truces quickly fell apart. — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

More than 1,550 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by the Israeli military since the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas began in October 2025, according to the territory’s health ministry. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

The ceasefire is expected to remain in place until November 1, according to Ukrainian MP Davyd Arakhamia, who is also a key peace negotiator. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ceasefire

• acquire
• attire
• bonfire
• campfire
• conspire
• desire
• enquire
• entire
• greenbrier
• gunfire
• homebuyer
• misfire

Kids Definition

cease-fire

noun

ˈsēs-ˈfī(ə)r

: a temporary stopping of warfare