peacetime

American  

[pees-tahym] / ˈpisˌtaɪm /

noun

1. a time or period of peace.

   a large navy even in peacetime.

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adjective

1. of or for such a period.

   peacetime uses of atomic energy.

peacetime British  

/ ˈpiːsˌtaɪm /

noun

1. 1. a period without war; time of peace

   2. ( as modifier )

      a peacetime agreement

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Etymology

Origin of peacetime

First recorded in 1545–55; peace + time

Explanation

If a country isn't involved in any wars for a certain length of time, that period is called peacetime. During peacetime, a government may cut back on their military budget and focus on education for a change. After the battles of World War II that raged across Europe, the period that followed was considered an era of peacetime for both Western Europe and the United States. The country that's enjoying the longest current stretch of peacetime is Sweden, which hasn't been involved in a war for over two hundred years. Peacetime in Japan during the Edo period started in 1603 and lasted 250 years.

Example Sentences

In peacetime, about a fifth of the world’s oil and oil products transited through the Strait of Hormuz.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

In peacetime, the Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of global oil and LNG shipments, as well as other major commodities, including fertiliser.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Container-cargo flows are nowhere near as dependent on the Strait of Hormuz as crude oil is — about a fifth of the world’s crude and crude products navigated through Hormuz in peacetime.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

That buildup, the largest-ever increase in U.S. peacetime military spending, played a significant role in ending the Cold War.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Back in North Brabant, a notice arrives that Vincent has been drafted for peacetime military service.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman