noun
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an agreement to stop fighting, esp temporarily
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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:
The US first lady said she had "reviewed demining plans, aerial images, assessed roadways, and discussed evacuation routes, hospital access, vehicles, and medical resources" during the truce.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
A truce also allows time to prepare for whatever China strategy the next U.S. administration might bring.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Neither side reported violations after the truce began, in what one Ukrainian lawmaker described as the "biggest de-escalation since 2022".
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
Residents of the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, ravaged by years of war, arrived in Ukraine on Saturday after being evacuated via Belarus during a rare truce brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
All in all, it was a long-standing and uneasy truce where both sides complained while maintaining a grudging tolerance.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
His work negotiating gang truces brought him widespread accolades, earning him numerous contracts with the city of Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
But many have questioned whether this will lead to more cooperation and further truces.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
But the tide has turned back in favour of the military, analysts say, after China threw support behind it and Beijing-backed truces were signed with two of the most powerful ethnic minority armies.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 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
"Knights may keep their truces with other knights, but they are not so careful of their honor When dealing with those they deem outlaw."
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
