truce

[ troos ]

noun

1. a suspension of hostilities for a specified period of time by mutual agreement of the warring parties; cease-fire; armistice.
2. an agreement or treaty establishing this.
3. a temporary respite, as from trouble or pain.

   Synonyms: stay, rest, pause, lull

truce

/ truːs /

noun

1. an agreement to stop fighting, esp temporarily
2. temporary cessation of something unpleasant

Other Words From

• truceless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of truce¹

1175–1225; Middle English trewes, plural of trewe, Old English trēow belief, pledge, treaty. See trow

Word History and Origins

Origin of truce¹

C13: from the plural of Old English treow trow ; see true , trust

Example Sentences

A 16-year-long insurgency ended with a UN-brokered truce in 1991 and the promise of a referendum on independence, which has yet to take place because of disagreements over how it should be conducted and who should be eligible to take part.

From BBC

It was a rare direct confrontation between two of the most heavily armed countries in the Middle East and augured ominously for easing hostilities and any future truce.

From Los Angeles Times

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees called for a temporary truce to enable safe passage for families still wishing to flee, while two local hospitals warned that they were running out of supplies.

From BBC

Mr Lazzarini called for “an immediate truce, even if for few hours, to enable safe humanitarian passage for families who wish to leave the area and reach safer places”.

From BBC

Instead, Netanyahu’s speech doubled down, rejecting a truce and escalating the regional war.

From BBC

Related Words

• accord
• agreement
• amnesty
• armistice
• cease-fire
• détente
• lull
• moratorium
• pause
• peace
• reconciliation
• reprieve
• suspension