noun
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an agreement to stop fighting, esp temporarily
-
temporary cessation of something unpleasant
Usage
What does truce mean? A truce is a stoppage of fighting between two or more people or sides in a conflict, especially a temporary one. The agreement, or treaty, that establishes such a stoppage can also be called a truce. When used in the context of military conflicts, a truce is often temporary and set for a specified period of time. Truce can also be used casually to refer to an agreement between two or more people to stop arguing or engaging in some less serious form of conflict, like a pillow fight (not that pillow fights can’t get pretty intense). Example: I realized the bad blood between me and Taylor was really petty, so we both decided to call a truce.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of truce
1175–1225; Middle English trewes, plural of trewe, Old English trēow belief, pledge, treaty. See trow
Explanation
When two warring sides decide to call it quits, it's called a truce — an agreement to end the fighting. When there's a truce, the two sides stop attacking each other, catch their breath, and try to work out a peace deal. A truce isn't a permanent solution: it's more like a time-out. People with other kinds of conflicts talk about truces, too. If you and your sister are in an ongoing battle, one of you could say, "Can we please call a truce?" That means you'll take a break from squabbling, at least for a while.
Vocabulary lists containing truce
"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
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Fallen Angels
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"Roller Girl" by Victoria Jamieson
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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:
Beijing and Washington had already agreed to extend a bilateral trade truce until mid-January, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
It started a blockade and a devastating air campaign that persisted until a 2022 truce.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
However, "you'd have to see further tangible outcomes for this truce to extend in the long run."
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
While there were many symbolic gestures, including Chinese pandas from President Xi, there were few big movements – although they committed to a six month extension of the tariff truce.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
“I’m going to call a truce so you can leave,” he added.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
Diesel prices have remained high even at times when crude oil has pulled back during truces in the U.S.-Iran conflict, threatening to further raise transportation costs in the autumn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
It brokered the two truces and threw its weight behind then junta chief Min Aung Hlaing when he mounted elections he touted as a return to civilian rule.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
As L.A. mayor, he brought down gang crime through a program that used former gang members to broker truces.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2026
The administration has reached trade truces with the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam while promising to de-escalate tensions with China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 12, 2026
From then on, even in the bloodiest periods of the war, the two commanders would arrange truces to exchange prisoners.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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.
