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.
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 WebSome close to Biden say the only holdout to the broader pact is Netanyahu.—Massimo Calabresi / Washington, TIME, 4 June 2024 The pact will put college football on one of Warner’s cable networks for the first time since a four-year stint that ended in 2006.—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 May 2024 For Lawrence, the Carell comedy is his latest to stem from his WBTV pact.—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024 The pact applies to the remaining minority, estimated at around 300,000 migrants last year.—Lorne Cook, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for pact
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
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