pact

[ pakt ]

noun

1. an agreement, covenant, or compact:

   We made a pact not to argue any more.

2. an agreement or treaty between two or more nations:

   a pact between Germany and Italy.

pact

/ pækt /

noun

1. an agreement or compact between two or more parties, nations, etc, for mutual advantage

Word History and Origins

Origin of pact¹

1400–50; late Middle English pact(e) < Middle French < Latin pactum, noun use of neuter of past participle of pacīscī to make a bargain, contract

Word History and Origins

Origin of pact¹

C15: from Old French pacte, from Latin pactum, from pacīscī to agree

Example Sentences

But throughout the war, both sides have taken care to avoid turning the conflict into a direct battle between Russia and NATO, whose 32 member nations, including the United States, have a mutual-defense pact.

From Los Angeles Times

But there is no doubt that the pair have stepped up cooperation after signing a security pact in June to help each other in the event of "aggression" against either country.

From BBC

Back during the Cold War, the Kremlin blocked its Warsaw Pact allies from developing or obtaining nuclear materials—it even confiscated some of those allies’ uranium mines.

From Slate

The UK already has a defence pact with France – the Lancaster House Treaty which was signed in 2010 by David Cameron and Nicholas Sarkozy – but this is the first with Germany.

From BBC

Moscow and Pyongyang have stepped up cooperation after their leaders Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a security pact in June, will pledges that their countries will help each other in the event of "aggression" against either country.

From BBC

Related Words

• arrangement
• compact
• contract
• convention
• covenant
• deal
• protocol
• settlement
• transaction
• understanding