cease-fire

[sees-fahyuhr]

noun

1. a cessation of hostilities; truce.

2. Military.,  an order issued for a cease-fire.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cease-fire¹

First recorded in 1840–50; noun use of verb phrase cease fire

Example Sentences

The Kremlin had finally agreed to let a group of Western journalists visit Kabul and Jalalabad to witness the “cease-fire” that had been announced a few days before we arrived.

From Los Angeles Times

He followed this by announcing an Israel-Iran cease-fire agreement that would “go forever.”

From Salon

Even with a tentative cease-fire now in place, achieving an agreement of this sort will not be easy.

From Los Angeles Times

No one is even sure that the purported cease-fire will survive for the full 90 days.

From Los Angeles Times

A January cease-fire between Hamas and Israel has since broken down, with Israel restarting intense bombardment of the enclave that has already killed more than 400 people, Palestinian authorities say.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• armistice 
• ceasefire 
• truce