pact

noun

Synonyms of pactnext
: 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.

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
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.
Around the same time, Our Films had just entered into a financing and distribution pact with Mubi. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 28 May 2026 Matz, who turns 35 Friday, agreed to a two-year, $15-million pact during the winter meetings in December after making 51 relief appearances (plus two starts) with the Red Sox and Cardinals last season. Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 Fox Creator Studios has set a production pact with comedian Tom Segura’s YMH Studios for a slate of projects designed to be released on his existing digital and direct-to-consumer channels. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 May 2026 Conversely, the pact will bring more Mexican exports such as coffee, fruit and chocolate into European countries. Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pact

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pact was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Pact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pact. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

pact

noun
: 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"

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