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

Example Sentences

The Ta'ang National Liberation Army agreed to an armistice in October, after the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army handed back once bitterly contested Lashio in April.

From Barron's

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

Seoul and Pyongyang have remained technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

From Barron's

Seoul and Pyongyang technically remain at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in armistice, not a peace treaty.

From Barron's

The two Koreas technically remain at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

From Barron's

Related Words

• ceasefire
• truce