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

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

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026

Other men who served in the Sudan included John French, the first commander of the British Expeditionary Force in France, and Douglas Haig, who succeeded him from December 1915 until the armistice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

Seoul and Pyongyang have remained technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

From Barron's • Nov. 10, 2025

Biden hammered out the first deal toward an armistice on Nov. 23 of that year, just a month and a half after the war began.

From Slate • Oct. 16, 2025

I urge General Gowon, in the name of humanity, to order his troops to pause while an armistice is negotiated.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• ceasefire
• truce