Pact has "peace" at its root because a pact often ends a period of unfriendly relations. The word is generally used in the field of international relations, where diplomats may speak of an "arms pact", a "trade pact", or a "fishing-rights pact". But it may also be used for any solemn agreement or promise between two people; after all, whenever two parties shake hands on a deal, they're not about to go to war with each other.
We supported a peace pact between the two countries.
They made a pact to go to the gym together three times a week.
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The United States declined to extend the free trade pact for another 16 years during the mandatory joint review on July 1.—
Jamie L. Lareau,
Freep.com,
28 Aug. 2026 This month, for example, Saudi Arabia forged a mutual defense pact with Pakistan and Turkey.—
Dina Esfandiary,
Foreign Affairs,
27 Aug. 2026 In early August, Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense pact with Pakistan and Turkey.—ABC News,
27 Aug. 2026 The pact is the latest live sports rights deal for the free streamer — and arguably the highest profile one in Roku’s current portfolio, which also has rights to X Games, Formula E and the Bassmaster pro fishing circuit.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pact
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin pactum, from neuter of pactus, past participle of pacisci to agree, contract; akin to Old English fōn to seize, Latin pax peace, pangere to fix, fasten, Greek pēgnynai