peaceable

American  

[pee-suh-buhl] / ˈpi sə bəl /

adjective

1. inclined or disposed to avoid strife or dissension; not argumentative or hostile: a peaceable disposition.

   a peaceable person;

   a peaceable disposition.

   Synonyms:

   pacifist, friendly, amicable

   Antonyms:

   hostile, quarrelsome

2. peaceful; tranquil.

   in peaceable periods;

   a peaceable adjustment of a dispute.

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peaceable British  

/ ˈpiːsəbəl /

adjective

1. inclined towards peace

2. tranquil; calm

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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."

Example Sentences

“This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible.”

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Military comedies have a long and relatively peaceable history on screens small and large — Fred Astaire, Bob Hope, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis and Bill Murray all made them.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2024

Why are some societies warlike, and why are some peaceable?

From Scientific American • Sep. 28, 2023

“We’ve held great trust in our justice system as they work through this process of holding accountable those who seek to threaten our First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceable assembly,” she said.

From New York Times • Jul. 21, 2023

And after the old Tisroc's death when Rabadash became Tisroc in his place he turned out the most peaceable Tisroc Calormen had ever known.

From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis