treaty

noun

trea·​ty ˈtrē-tē How to pronounce treaty (audio)
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This body crafted the 1958 UN treaty on road transport, which has been signed by 58 countries including France and the Netherlands. Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025 However, the Minuteman III hasn't carried multiple warheads since 2014 in compliance with arms reduction treaties, according to the U.S. Air Force. Brett Tingley, Space.com, 21 May 2025 So talk of American and Canadian filmmakers jointly developing and co-producing official treaty films between Canada and the U.S., and to be shot on either side of the border, hits Fuica’s sweet spot. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025 After years of tough negotiations, member nations are poised to adopt the pandemic treaty, an agreement aimed at ensuring the globe responds to the next pandemic better than COVID-19. Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for treaty

Word History

Etymology

Middle English trete, from Anglo-French treté, from past participle of treter to discuss, treat

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of treaty was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Treaty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treaty. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

treaty

noun
trea·​ty ˈtrēt-ē How to pronounce treaty (audio)
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
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 treatiesU.S. Constitution art. II
compare executive agreement
3
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on treaty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!