plural treaties
1
a
: an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation:
(1)
: a contract in writing between two or more political authorities (such as states or sovereigns) formally signed by representatives duly authorized and usually ratified by the lawmaking authority of the state
(2)
b
: a document in which such a contract is set down
2
: the action of treating and especially of negotiating
Examples of treaty in a Sentence
a nuclear test ban treaty
in accordance with a treaty between the United States and the tribes of the Pacific Northwest, commercial fishing of certain kinds of salmon is limited to Native Americans
Recent Examples on the Web
The federal government is obligated by treaty to fund services such as healthcare and education to tribal nations in exchange for the government taking tribal lands in the 1800s.
—
Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
After years of talks for a global treaty on plastic waste, the negotiations have bogged down with sessions this summer and late last year both ending in stalemate and frustration.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Such work would be an important reality check as society grapples with this kind of emerging threat from AI, says Casadevall, but would be tricky to do, as it might be precluded by international treaties prohibiting the development of biological weapons.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Indeed, Clara Films is one of several Latino companies setting up shop in Spain in order to better tap the country’s generous film incentives and expanding co-production treaties with a host of countries.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treaty
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
After years of talks for a global treaty on plastic waste, the negotiations have bogged down with sessions this summer and late last year both ending in stalemate and frustration.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Such work would be an important reality check as society grapples with this kind of emerging threat from AI, says Casadevall, but would be tricky to do, as it might be precluded by international treaties prohibiting the development of biological weapons.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Indeed, Clara Films is one of several Latino companies setting up shop in Spain in order to better tap the country’s generous film incentives and expanding co-production treaties with a host of countries.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treaty
Cite this Entry
“Treaty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treaty. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
treaty
noun
trea·ty
ˈtrēt-ē 
plural treaties
: an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation
especially
: one between two or more states or rulers
Legal Definition
treaty
noun
trea·ty
plural treaties
1
: the action of treating and especially of negotiating
2
: an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation: as
a
b
: a contract in writing between two or more political authorities (as states or sovereigns) formally signed by representatives duly authorized and usually ratified by the lawmaking authority of the state
the President…shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties—U.S. Constitution art. II
compare executive agreement
U.S. Constitution art. II3
: a document embodying a negotiated agreement or contract
4
: an agreement or contract (as between companies) providing for treaty reinsurance
Etymology
Anglo-French treté, from Middle French traité, from Medieval Latin tractatus, from Latin, handling, treatment, from tractare to treat, handle
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