stalemate

American  

[steyl-meyt] / ˈsteɪlˌmeɪt /

noun

1. Chess. a position of the pieces in which a player cannot move any piece except the king and cannot move the king without putting it in check.

2. any position or situation in which no action can be taken or progress made; deadlock.

   Talks between union and management resulted in a stalemate.

   Synonyms:

   standstill, standoff, impasse

---

verb (used with object)

stalemated, stalemating

1. to subject to a stalemate.

2. to bring to a standstill.

verb (used without object)

stalemated, stalemating

1. to be or result in a stalemate or standoff.

   Negotiations stalemated when new salary demands were introduced.

stalemate British  

/ ˈsteɪlˌmeɪt /

noun

1. a chess position in which any of a player's possible moves would place his king in check: in this position the game ends in a draw

2. a situation in which two opposing forces find that further action is impossible or futile; deadlock

---

verb

1. (tr) to subject to a stalemate

Other Word Forms

• unstalemated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of stalemate

1755–65; late Middle English stale stalemate (whence Anglo-French estale ) (apparently special use of stale ¹ ) + mate ²

Explanation

A stalemate is an impasse in a contest, a point where neither player — usually in chess — can win or lose. Stalemate is from an Old French word, estal, which means “place, position, or stand.” To be in a stalemate with an opponent is to be in a locked position, or a stalled place, where neither player can make a profitable move. Chess is the most common context for a stalemate, but any contest or negotiation can result in a stalemate: "The discussions about buying their competitor’s waffle house reached a stalemate and the deal died."

Example Sentences

"Stalemate might be the worst possible scenario" says another, while acknowledging that is precisely what could happen.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Stalemate: The U.S. team held its own against the soccer heavyweight England, battling to a draw.

From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2022

Rebellion at Stalemate, Waiting for Undecided Syrians to Make a Move BEIRUT, Lebanon — At his government office in the Syrian capital, Damascus, the civil servant avoids discussing what Syrians call “the situation.”

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2013

Stalemate in Korea, a National Park Service ranger discusses what caused the war to end in a stalemate.

From Washington Post

Stalemate, stāl′māt, n. in chess-playing, the position of the king when he cannot move without being placed in check.—v.t. to put into a condition of stalemate: to bring to a standstill.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Related Words

• delay
• gridlock
• impasse
• standoff
• standstill