pact
Americannoun
-
an agreement, covenant, or compact.
We made a pact not to argue any more.
-
an agreement or treaty between two or more nations.
a pact between Germany and Italy.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pact
1400–50; late Middle English pact(e) < Middle French < Latin pactum, noun use of neuter of past participle of pacīscī to make a bargain, contract
Explanation
A pact is a treaty or other agreement between parties, and it's usually written. Countries can have pacts or you can make a pact with your friends, promising each other that you'll all show up for the spelling bee. A pact is a formal agreement. The 1955 Warsaw Pact, for instance, was Eastern Europe's answer to NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), with communist countries pledging mutual aid in case of foreign aggression. You may also come across the word compact, which is pretty much the same as a pact. The word pact comes from the Latin pactum, meaning "something agreed upon." In Roman times, one kind of pact was the marriage pact you signed when you got married.
Vocabulary lists containing pact
Inside Out & Back Again
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Prisoner B-3087
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The pact could also be a tipping point for British alcohol and spirits companies.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon feted his guest with an indigenous Maori welcome and guard of honour, seeking to expand relations after signing a free-trade pact in April that he has touted as an economic boon.
From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026
She says she had made a pact with herself to quit at 47 if the IVF didn't work by then.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
To that end, Canada this year became the first non-European country to join Europe’s defense procurement pact.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Nonetheless, Helmuth remained true to his pact, accepting full responsibility for writing and distributing the leaflets.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Some Trump administration officials and allies said Lutnick has taken a leading role on major trade and investment deals, including pacts with Japan, South Korea and the European Union signed last year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
But these little small pacts start to snowball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026
“You will have to wait and see. I have some things in the works,” Greer said in response to a question about the legal authority for the tariffs in the trade pacts.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
The new pacts also reflect the league’s desire to create more stand-alone games and reduce the number of matchups scheduled for Sunday afternoons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026
And there they are, instantly drawn into one of those pacts you’d be hard-pressed to break if you ever expect to go home and face your district.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
