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

See Examples For:

peacetime

John Evans, an analyst at PVM, said exports from Yanbu had now reached 75 percent of Saudi Arabia's peacetime exports.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Norway has opened a new memorial for the 77 victims of the country's deadliest terror attack in peacetime, days before its 15th anniversary.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

But in peacetime, he’s a fish out of water.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

In peacetime, about 20% of the world’s crude oil and crude products passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been at a standstill since the start of the war in late February.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026

No barrage balloons or anything, just empty sky like in peacetime.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein