treatise
Americannoun
noun
-
a formal work on a subject, esp one that deals systematically with its principles and conclusions
-
an obsolete word for narrative
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of treatise
1300–50; Middle English tretis < Anglo-French tretiz, akin to Old French traitier to treat
Explanation
A treatise is a formal written paper about a specific subject. It’s like an essay but longer. A treatise is usually about a serious subject, so you might read a treatise on democracy, but you probably won't read a treatise about chewing gum. The word treatise is related to the verb treat, in the sense of "deal with,” like the way a doctor treats a patient. Like a doctor, a treatise examines a subject from all angles. It has nothing to do with treats, unless you’re writing a treatise on desserts, which would be weird. More appropriate topics for a treatise include philosophy, religion, economics, and so forth. An example of a political treatise is The Prince by Machiavelli, which basically argues that “the ends justify the means.”
Vocabulary lists containing treatise
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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:
I mentioned this trick in my treatise on not wasting pickle juice, and the same logic applies here.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
Her final chapter, on how to thrive amid uncertainty, is sensible enough, but is more of a short treatise on the good life than an analysis of the appropriate role of prediction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
It is hard to believe that it’s been a full decade since Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn’s last feature film, 2016’s “The Neon Demon,” a disorienting treatise on fame and Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2026
Johann Fischer's 1852 treatise on lizard neuroanatomy included part of the coil but omitted the remainder, and Fischer never described the curled structure.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 19, 2025
“Bears,” said the old man, “ha! I could write a treatise on them! That’s why they shut me away, you know.”
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
Researchers worked with Le Chat, a generative AI tool developed by the French start‑up Mistral, training it on Moliere's body of work, as well as dialogues and philosophical treatises.
From Barron's ● May 4, 2026
The older cases and treatises turned not simply on place of birth, but on protection, allegiance and the sovereign’s acceptance of the parents’ presence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026
Some scientists want stricter enforcement of existing space treatises or more regulation of space debris.
From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2026
Eastman’s criticism of birthright citizenship unfurled mostly through legal treatises and in conservative publications until 2020, when an article he wrote for Newsweek made him the public face of the issue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2025
Apart from the treatises on farming and the cultivation of various crops, there were rows and rows of histories.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
