treaty

American  

[tree-tee] / ˈtri ti /

noun

treaties plural

1. a formal agreement between two or more states in reference to peace, alliance, commerce, or other international relations.

2. the formal document embodying such an international agreement.

3. any agreement or compact.

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treaty British  

/ ˈtriːtɪ /

noun

1. 1. a formal agreement or contract between two or more states, such as an alliance or trade arrangement

   2. the document in which such a contract is written

2. any international agreement

3. any pact or agreement

4. an agreement between two parties concerning the purchase of property at a price privately agreed between them

5. archaic negotiation towards an agreement

6. 1. any of the formal agreements between Indian bands and the federal government by which the Indians surrender their land rights in return for various forms of aid

   2. ( as modifier )

      treaty Indians

      treaty money

7. an obsolete word for entreaty

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Other Word Forms

• nontreaty
  noun
• treatyless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of treaty

1350–1400; Middle English trete < Anglo-French < Latin tractātus tractate

Compare meaning

How does treaty compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• executive agreement vs. treaty
• armistice vs. treaty

Explanation

When a war ends, often two countries will sign a treaty, which is a contract where both sides agree to behave a certain way. Treaties are used for many reasons, like creating alliances or preventing nuclear weapons from being built. The Latin root of treaty is tractare, which means “handle.” When two nations sign a treaty, they decide to handle things according to rules defined in their agreement. However, treaties are not always permanent, and can be broken if one side changes their mind. When white Europeans were settling in the United States, they made many treaties with Native Americans, and every single treaty was eventually broken, some even less than a day later.

Example Sentences

Sir Keir held talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at RAF Northolt in west London on Wednesday to formalise the treaty.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

The treaty text said it aims to "strengthen close co-operation in security and defence and preparing for the challenges facing" both the UK and Poland "and Europe as a whole".

From BBC • May 27, 2026

In 2019, the commission filed a lawsuit claiming Fisher had violated a binational water treaty between the U.S. and Mexico after the company constructed fencing in South Texas.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

Hoekstra’s comments come at a delicate time in U.S.-Canada relations, as trade tensions have intensified ahead of a U.S.-led review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade treaty, or USMCA.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Attorney General Edmund Randolph was away negotiating an Indian treaty, and his department fell into disarray almost immediately.

From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy