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

But the deals are done project by project, rather than via the older model of pacts that paid out millions in development funds and compensation over three or four years. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026

News of Lee’s new pact comes ahead of the world premiere for Beef Season 2 tonight at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026

In 2024, Bad Robot’s Warners deal was extended for another two years but became a nonexclusive, first-look pact. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026

That pact ended in 2017 and was never renewed or renegotiated. —Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2026

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"