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

• 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

Giddey's new pact can enable him to move past any friction created by the frustrating and slow-moving nature of his contract negotiations with the Bulls. —Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Last year, Kim signed a mutual defense pact with Putin, as the two countries pledged to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event the other is attacked. —Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025

Ion had reportedly paid $13 million per year in the initial three-year pact. —Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Australian officials raised concerns to a bipartisan group of lawmakers about the Pentagon’s review of the trilateral pact with the US and UK known as AUKUS, a senator present told Semafor. —Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 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"