olive branch

American  

[ol-iv branch] / ˈɒl ɪv ˌbræntʃ /

noun

1. a branch of the olive tree as an emblem of peace.

   One of their national emblems is a white dove clutching the olive branch of peace.

2. any token of peace.

   The new prime minister has pursued a reconciliation strategy, extending an olive branch to dissidents and rebel groups.

   Still in a snit, she snubbed his olive branch a few days later by blocking his phone call.

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olive branch British  

noun

1. a branch of an olive tree used to symbolize peace

2. any offering of peace or conciliation

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olive branch Cultural  

1. The branch brought by a dove to Noah's ark signifying that the flood was receding.

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olive branch Idioms  

1. A symbol of peace, an offering of good will, as in They feuded for years, but finally the Hatfields came over bearing an olive branch. This term is alluded to in the Bible (Genesis 8:11), where the dove comes to Noah after the flood with an olive leaf in its mouth. [c. 1600]

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Discover More

An olive branch is now regarded as a sign of peace, as is the dove. (See hawks and doves.)

Etymology

Origin of olive branch

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English

Example Sentences

On Monday she said: "I cannot discuss the terms of the settlement, but generally I am glad that my employer has finally decided to extend an olive branch to me."

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Strangely, he also wanted the track to be an olive branch to Metallica.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

Altman also extended an olive branch to the White House, calling Trump a “very strong leader” and expressing hope he would “unite the U.S.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday extended an olive branch to his US-backed Ecuadoran counterpart Daniel Noboa in a bid to end a week-old trade war over cross-border drug trafficking.

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

Celia didn’t have to know how much Dimple had been hoping for some kind of olive branch, even though Dimple wasn’t the one who’d done anything wrong.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

Related Words

• overture