peaceable
Americanadjective
-
inclined or disposed to avoid strife or dissension; not argumentative or hostile: a peaceable disposition.
a peaceable person;
a peaceable disposition.
- Antonyms:
- hostile, quarrelsome
-
in peaceable periods;
a peaceable adjustment of a dispute.
adjective
-
inclined towards peace
-
tranquil; calm
Other Word Forms
- peaceableness noun
- peaceably adverb
- unpeaceable adjective
- unpeaceably adverb
Etymology
Origin of peaceable
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pesible, from Middle French paisible; see peace, -able
Explanation
Someone or something that is peaceable tends to avoid conflict. A peaceable demonstration would most likely involve lots of protest banners instead of angry rioters. A peaceable group of people finds non-violent ways to resolve disagreements — you could call such a group a peaceable society. This adjective is less common than the closely related peaceful. Both words come from the Old French pais, or "peace," and its Latin root pacem, "treaty of peace" or "absence of war."
Vocabulary lists containing peaceable
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible.”
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
She is adopted by animals who have formed a peaceable kingdom in a city that humans have left behind.
From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2023
Why are some societies warlike, and why are some peaceable?
From Scientific American • Sep. 28, 2023
No less worrisome, ever more scientists and engineers will undoubtedly be encouraged — not to say, prodded — to devote their careers to military research rather than work in more peaceable fields.
From Salon • Apr. 18, 2023
“Now that’s an odd thing. When I was a youth, friends laughed together and spoke in peaceable voices. Only enemies stood glaring and yelling, with their fists doubled. But then, times change.”
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
