stalemate

[ steyl-meyt ]

noun

1. Chess. a position of the pieces in which a player cannot move any piece except the king and cannot move the king without putting it in check.
2. any position or situation in which no action can be taken or progress made; deadlock:

   Talks between union and management resulted in a stalemate.

   Synonyms: standstill, standoff, impasse

verb (used with object)

, stale·mat·ed, stale·mat·ing.

1. to subject to a stalemate.
2. to bring to a standstill.

verb (used without object)

, stale·mat·ed, stale·mat·ing.

1. to be or result in a stalemate or standoff:

   Negotiations stalemated when new salary demands were introduced.

stalemate

/ ˈsteɪlˌmeɪt /

noun

1. a chess position in which any of a player's possible moves would place his king in check: in this position the game ends in a draw
2. a situation in which two opposing forces find that further action is impossible or futile; deadlock

verb

1. tr to subject to a stalemate

Other Words From

• un·stalemated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stalemate¹

1755–65; late Middle English stale stalemate (whence Anglo-French estale ) (apparently special use of stale ¹ ) + mate ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of stalemate¹

C18: from obsolete stale , from Old French estal stall ¹+ mate ²

Example Sentences

There had been stalemate over a pay rise for teachers for three years as inflation rose, leading to strikes and other industrial action.

From BBC

Cosla told the BBC that ringfencing spending on teachers was not the best way to protect pupil attainment and that the stalemate is making things worse.

From BBC

Boeing says it has withdrawn its pay rise offer to striking workers after negotiations with union representatives reached a stalemate.

From BBC

Both times, Betts made the other team pay, once with an extra-inning home run against the Angels and the other time with a run-scoring single that broke a ninth-inning stalemate against the Atlanta Braves.

From Los Angeles Times

But planning for the war with Hezbollah started after the last one ended in 2006 in a humiliating stalemate for Israel.

From BBC

Related Words

• delay
• gridlock
• impasse
• standoff
• standstill