Synonyms of pact
: compact entry 4
especially : an international treaty

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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.
Creator deals unveiled at the market included Endemol Shine Brasil’s pact with Latino creator house Grupo Podpah. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 Peacock earlier this year struck an innovative distribution pact to be bundled as part of a YouTube TV premium tier. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 Turkey’s Defense Ministry said Thursday that a mutual defense pact between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as any deployment of Turkish forces under the agreement, requires parliamentary approval. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 That meant meeting with Iceland and forging a new defense pact last year. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

: 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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