noun
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an agreement to stop fighting, esp temporarily
-
temporary cessation of something unpleasant
Usage
What does truce mean? A truce is a stoppage of fighting between two or more people or sides in a conflict, especially a temporary one. The agreement, or treaty, that establishes such a stoppage can also be called a truce. When used in the context of military conflicts, a truce is often temporary and set for a specified period of time. Truce can also be used casually to refer to an agreement between two or more people to stop arguing or engaging in some less serious form of conflict, like a pillow fight (not that pillow fights can’t get pretty intense). Example: I realized the bad blood between me and Taylor was really petty, so we both decided to call a truce.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of truce
1175–1225; Middle English trewes, plural of trewe, Old English trēow belief, pledge, treaty. See trow
Explanation
When two warring sides decide to call it quits, it's called a truce — an agreement to end the fighting. When there's a truce, the two sides stop attacking each other, catch their breath, and try to work out a peace deal. A truce isn't a permanent solution: it's more like a time-out. People with other kinds of conflicts talk about truces, too. If you and your sister are in an ongoing battle, one of you could say, "Can we please call a truce?" That means you'll take a break from squabbling, at least for a while.
Vocabulary lists containing truce
"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
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Fallen Angels
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"Roller Girl" by Victoria Jamieson
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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:
Beijing and Washington had already agreed to extend a bilateral trade truce until mid-January, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Chinese state media confirmed for the first time on Monday that the trade truce has been extended until 10 January.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
However, "you'd have to see further tangible outcomes for this truce to extend in the long run."
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
A trade truce between the two sides was extended for a mere two months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
She leaned over the parapet, watching as a young fox approached along the dusty road, bearing a stick with a white rag of truce tied to it.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Diesel prices have remained high even at times when crude oil has pulled back during truces in the U.S.-Iran conflict, threatening to further raise transportation costs in the autumn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
As L.A. mayor, he brought down gang crime through a program that used former gang members to broker truces.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2026
The intervening 116 years were characterized by intermittent spasms of far-flung fighting, interrupted by truces and even a formal peace between 1360 and 1369.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026
"If necessary, we will sign 20 truces if it is useful," the CNT member told AFP.
From Barron's ● Nov. 28, 2025
The High King’s subjects and the Courts with which there are truces, however wobbly.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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.
