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

Tokushige said countries can no longer rely on expensive missiles, China-made components or peacetime procurement models to counter the threat from cheap, easy-to-make drones.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

They also rely on complex global supply chains and have been built in peacetime at relatively low rates – in the hundreds, not the thousands.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Another source of strain: In peacetime, the ports were used for rest and recuperation by sailors seeking a break from an aircraft carrier’s crammed quarters and exhausting routines.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026

"We will therefore continue to train diligently and intensively, so that we are fully prepared in peacetime and able to carry out our missions in wartime."

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

Two days before the stay-at-home, the government staged the greatest peacetime show of force in South African history.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela