armistice

American  

[ahr-muh-stis] / ˈɑr mə stɪs /

noun

1. a temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties; truce.

   World War I ended with the armistice of 1918.

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armistice British  

/ ˈɑːmɪstɪs /

noun

1. an agreement between opposing armies to suspend hostilities in order to discuss peace terms; truce

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Other Word Forms

• postarmistice noun

Etymology

Origin of armistice

First recorded in 1670–80; from French, from Medieval Latin armistitium, equivalent to Latin armi- (combining form of arma “weapons, arms, instruments of war”) + -stitium “a stopping” ( stit- being a variant stem of sistere “to stop,” and modeled on Latin solstitium “solstice”) + -ium neuter of -ius adjective and noun suffix; arm ², solstice, stand, -ium

Compare meaning

How does armistice compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• armistice vs. treaty

Explanation

When two sides of a war need a break from killing each other, they agree to an armistice, a temporary battle timeout. An armistice isn’t permanent, but it’s usually a sign that both sides want to give peace a chance. War is exhausting, and sometimes you need an armistice to catch your breath and figure out a more peaceful way to live. The word has two Greek roots: arma which means “weapons,” and stitium which means “stoppage.” When you’re ready to stop using your weapons, it’s time to propose an armistice. Although the word looks like a mouthful, it’s easy to pronounce if you remember that it’s an arm with two rhymes: ARM-iss-tiss.

Example Sentences

A United Nations bus came to transport returnees past the so-called Yellow Line, an armistice boundary created after the ceasefire that separates portions of Gaza controlled by Hamas and Israel.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

He’s been little more than an emcee for negotiations, but wants us to think he invented armistice.

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026

South and North Korea remain technically at war, as the 1950–53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

Other men who served in the Sudan included John French, the first commander of the British Expeditionary Force in France, and Douglas Haig, who succeeded him from December 1915 until the armistice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

Wild, tormenting rumours of an armistice and peace are in the air, they lay hold on our hearts and make the return to the front harder than ever.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

Related Words

• ceasefire
• truce