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.
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The Astros also reportedly offered Bregman a six-year pact worth $156 million.—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025 The new three-year pact additionally requires management to give union members advance notice if the company plans to make the use of generative AI systems a requirement of their jobs.—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025 Kirk Franklin After making a pact on the 2022 Grammys red carpet to work together, the contemporary gospel legend sang on and/or lent direction of his eponymous Singers to multiple Vol. 4 tracks.—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 28 Jan. 2025 The Padres had given Profar a three-year, $21 million deal before the 2021 season but the player exercised an opt-out clause after two seasons.
But betting on himself backfired, forcing Profar to play for much smaller one-year pacts two years in a row.—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 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
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