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peacemaker

American  
[pees-may-ker] / ˈpisˌmeɪ kər /

noun

  • peacemakers
    plural
  1. a person, group, or nation that tries to make peace, especially by reconciling parties who disagree, quarrel, or fight.

    Synonyms:
    arbitrator, mediator, conciliator, intermediary

peacemaker British  
/ ˈpiːsˌmeɪkə /

noun

  1. a person who establishes peace, esp between others

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns


Etymology

Origin of peacemaker

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at peace, maker


Explanation

A peacemaker is a person who helps others solve a conflict and reach a peaceful solution. Of course Gandhi was a famous peacemaker, but even the volunteer on playground patrol can act as a peacemaker too. An individual can be a peacemaker, and there are also organizations that work as peacemakers. If two countries are engaged in a long war, for example, peacemakers might help negotiate a truce. Diplomats and mediators are peacemakers, and if you help your angry sisters come to a peaceable agreement about whose turn it is to take out the trash, you're a peacemaker too.

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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.

See Examples For:

"The complainant spoke with them and tried to be diplomatic - he was a peacemaker", Gobir said.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

He used Tuesday's speech to tout his achievements, and claim the mantle of a peacemaker, at the same time as he issued a number of pointed threats.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

The defense memo described Zambada as a patriarch — the father of 16 children from multiple women — and a peacemaker who “was known to first seek out other solutions” before resorting to violence.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

You can’t have peace if there is no peacemaker on the other side.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

“Birds in their little nests agree,” sang Beth, the peacemaker, with such a funny face that both sharp voices softened to a laugh, and the “pecking” ended for that time.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

These are from the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus blesses the poor, the meek and the peacemakers, and then calls on his followers to turn the other cheek and love their enemies.

From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026

Aboard the papal plane on Monday, Leo told reporters: "The Gospel says... blessed are the peacemakers."

From Barron's ● Apr. 14, 2026

That long-ago mishmash of horses, poets and peacemakers seems quaint today.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026

Maybe some leaders would consent to a meeting if the board really were composed of “the most prestigious” peacemakers.

From Slate ● Jan. 28, 2026

Her impression was that Michael and Kathie were peacemakers who wanted to stay under the radar.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

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