pact

American  

[pakt] / pækt /

noun

1. an agreement, covenant, or compact.

   We made a pact not to argue any more.

2. an agreement or treaty between two or more nations.

   a pact between Germany and Italy.

---

pact British  

/ pækt /

noun

1. an agreement or compact between two or more parties, nations, etc, for mutual advantage

---

Etymology

Origin of pact

1400–50; late Middle English pact(e) < Middle French < Latin pactum, noun use of neuter of past participle of pacīscī to make a bargain, contract

Example Sentences

Vietnam agreed to purchase Boeing aircraft as part of the pact, and the U.S. agreed to identify goods it would exempt from its tariff, which otherwise remains at 20% for Vietnam.

From The Wall Street Journal

Trade tensions between Ottawa and Washington have ramped up over the past month, after Ottawa secured a pact with Beijing that would allow some Chinese-made electric vehicles to enter Canada at sharply reduced tariff rates.

From The Wall Street Journal

In Tuesday’s statement, both the U.S. and the Philippines reiterated their commitment to the mutual-defense treaty, saying that the pact extended to armed attacks against either country’s forces, aircraft and vessels.

From The Wall Street Journal

Uncertainty is expected to remain high this year, with the North American free trade pact up for review.

From The Wall Street Journal

Details of the deal remain sparse, limited to a joint statement and a White House factsheet, but New Delhi says an interim pact should be finalised by the end of March.

From Barron's

Related Words

• arrangement
• compact
• contract
• convention
• covenant
• deal
• protocol
• settlement
• transaction
• understanding