armistice

American  

[ahr-muh-stis] / ˈɑr mə stɪs /

noun

1. a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties; truce.

   World War I ended with the armistice of 1918.

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armistice British  

/ ˈɑːmɪstɪs /

noun

1. an agreement between opposing armies to suspend hostilities in order to discuss peace terms; truce

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Other Word Forms

• postarmistice noun

Etymology

Origin of armistice

First recorded in 1670–80; from French, from Medieval Latin armistitium, equivalent to Latin armi- (combining form of arma “weapons, arms, instruments of war”) + -stitium “a stopping” ( stit- being a variant stem of sistere “to stop,” and modeled on Latin solstitium “solstice”) + -ium neuter of -ius adjective and noun suffix; arm ², solstice, stand, -ium

Compare meaning

How does armistice compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• armistice vs. treaty

Example Sentences

A United Nations bus came to transport returnees past the so-called Yellow Line, an armistice boundary created after the ceasefire that separates portions of Gaza controlled by Hamas and Israel.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

He’s been little more than an emcee for negotiations, but wants us to think he invented armistice.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026

The Ta'ang National Liberation Army agreed to an armistice in October, after the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army handed back once bitterly contested Lashio in April.

From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025

President Dwight Eisenhower ended hostilities in Korea with an armistice six months into office.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

In June 1940, France, having suffered devastating losses in battle, signed an armistice that allowed the German army to occupy much of Northern and Western France.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• ceasefire
• truce