stalemate

[steyl-meyt]

noun

1. Chess.,  a position of the pieces in which a player cannot move any piece except the king and cannot move the king without putting it in check.

2. any position or situation in which no action can be taken or progress made; deadlock.

   Talks between union and management resulted in a stalemate.

   Synonyms: standstill, standoff, impasse

verb (used with object)

stalemated, stalemating 

1. to subject to a stalemate.

2. to bring to a standstill.

verb (used without object)

stalemated, stalemating 

1. to be or result in a stalemate or standoff.

   Negotiations stalemated when new salary demands were introduced.

stalemate

/ ˈsteɪlˌmeɪt /

noun

1. a chess position in which any of a player's possible moves would place his king in check: in this position the game ends in a draw

2. a situation in which two opposing forces find that further action is impossible or futile; deadlock

verb

1. (tr) to subject to a stalemate

Other Word Forms

• unstalemated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stalemate¹

1755–65; late Middle English stale stalemate (whence Anglo-French estale ) (apparently special use of stale ¹ ) + mate ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of stalemate¹

C18: from obsolete stale , from Old French estal _stall ¹ + _mate ²

Example Sentences

High home prices and interest rates and concerns about the economy are part of what’s fueling the stalemate.

Read more on MarketWatch

Severe impacts on air traffic have begun to mount in recent days, with hundreds of flights canceled daily, raising the political pressure to end the stalemate.

Read more on Barron's

The current shutdown is the longest on record in the US, and until this weekend it appeared that Republican and Democratic lawmakers were locked in a stalemate.

Read more on BBC

Duffy warned the impacts on air travel will grow dire if they do not break the stalemate soon.

Read more on BBC

California is one of several states suing the administration to restore the safety net program while negotiations continue to end the stalemate.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delay 
• gridlock 
• impasse 
• standoff 
• standstill