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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 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

But as he finished answering my question, was this an olive branch to Europe from Russia's president?

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025

This week, soccer’s pooh-bahs extended a PR-seeking olive branch: a scattering of $60 tickets for all matches, even the final, to be distributed to federations to deliver to valued supporters.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

“Well, that makes sense. I guess the branch is an olive branch? But what’s this inscription, ΑΘΕ—Area Of Effect?”

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• overture